To find all-female environments really difficult

[violettttt]

I have recently started a new job, and everyone is female, so about 25 women of varying ages. That said, most are under 30.

I was working in a predominately male environment before (about 70:30) and found it very easy. We had a laugh, there were no cliques and it felt very relaxed.

I'm going to sound very sexist, so let me say I know some women don't do this and working with men isn't always easy either, It depends on the individual. But when women are in a group it can often feel like school all over again. Gossiping, cliques, snide looks, secret laughing etc.

In this new job I feel isolated, all the women have their little groups and don't like newcomers getting involve. They all have secret online chats, and I've seen then exchange knowing looks with each other and laughing. They spend their lunchtimes gossiping and it feels like a sixth form common room. I've tried to get involved but it's not very inclusive

I don't hate women - I am one! But I'm finding this working environment quite hard to deal with

I don’t think the problem is that you are working with women, you are working with nasty people.

I was in nursing for years, 99%female, no bitching. Maybe we were too busy?

I had the opposite. Worked in mainly male environments twice and it was god-awful. So competitive in EVERYTHING. The challenge was to make each other look as bad as possible in front of senior management. Thank God for us three women who were mutually supportive and cracked on with our jobs without feeling the need to put others down. My best manager ever was a woman and I’ve loved every time I’ve worked in all female environments. Fun and collaborative. Great.

I was in nursing for years, 99%female, no bitching. Maybe we were too busy?

Spent more years than I care to remember (decades) working in the NHS back offices. Bullying was rife amongst nurses and stress related to bullying was probablu the no 1 cause of sick leave in my trust.

I am an engineer so I worked in male dominated environment most of my working life. As a shy introvert, I feel less judged by male colleagues then females, most males don't usually mind quiet people. However, a lot of them think they are more clever than they really are which annoys me greatly.

"Worked in mainly male environments twice and it was god-awful. So competitive in EVERYTHING. The challenge was to make each other look as bad as possible in front of senior management."

I never noticed much difference in levels of competitiveness between the men and women in my trainee intake at work. Aside from a couple of very sweet and genuine young women, who ended up leaving, everyone was cutthroat as hell. There was definitely a difference in how the behaviour was perceived, though. Male colleagues who spread false rumours about office affairs, stitched their peers up and strategically left people out of communications to isolate them, were seen as untrustworthy but also ambitious, career-minded and one to watch for future promotion. Female colleagues who did the same were regarded as bitchy, jealous and a bit unstable.

This is an interesting thread, but consider replacing "women" with "black people", "Asians" or "Jews". Would you say it's preferable to work with white people? Gentiles are less bitchy? Non - Asians don't bully as much? No? Why say it about women?

If women have, shall we say, predatory work relationships, they're gossips and bitches. Men doing the same are networking and engaging in office politics.

@violettttt if you prefer a mixed environment and this is all female, then I would look for another job. No harm to start looking now and just say at interview you were looking for something more.

I'm sort of on the fence here - my department is all female and my boss is female, she's great and we all get on fine - we stick up for each other and it's all pretty inclusive and friendly. The crew next door are mixed, have the same lovely line manager and all fight like rats in a sack and always have done ... l think it only takes a few bad apples to sour a whole department, but it's personality rather than sex that's at the bottom of it.

I worked in fashion for years so 90% woman & I loved it. I then ended up in a working environment which was 99% men & me. Men are just as bitchy & arghh the egos on some of them 😏.
Try & rise above it, engage in conversation etc