RADA launches "executive presence for women" courses - what do you think?

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We've been asked to comment on RADA's "executive presence for women courses" tomorrow and we're interested in hearing your thoughts.

Here's an article in the Times (behind a paywall) which explains that the course will get course participants to "stop nodding in agreement, smile a lot less and try a bit of manspreading next time you’re surrounded by a table of men at a meeting, even if you’re a woman."

The Times continues: "As part of its training, Rada has listed ten body language “mistakes, where female leaders unknowingly reduce their authority by denoting vulnerability or submission”. These include using too many head tilts, which imply empathy; taking up less physical space than men; inappropriately and excessively smiling; and failing to interrupt enough."

There's also an article in the Telegraph.

What do you think? Would you find this useful? Would you take this course if offered?

Thanks
MNHQ

I'm struggling with that view too.

There's so much that many women do unconsciously that undermines their own authority. I am an assertive and fairly feisty woman. However, I know that when I started out in an industry dominated by men, I constantly "apologised for my presence" both verbally and non-verbally, and I was totally unaware that I was doing this.

If the aim of the course is to undo the socialisation of women that leaves them at a disadvantage in the workplace, then it is a good thing.

If it makes explicit cultural norms so that women can better read a culture they are less familiar with, then that is good too.

It's counter productive to complain about the socialisation of women, and complain about attempts to redress it.

I think the 'anti-feminist argument' is:

1. Training women to be like men accedes to the deeply anti-feminist viewpoint that '(white, hetero, alpha) male is the norm and desirable'.

2. If there is bullying in the workplace, a toxic working environment for women, institutional sexism, unfair advancement of men, unconscious bias etc then those are the things that should be tackled.

So one can take the view that this is seeking to train women to become 'part of the establishment' - swaggering, alpha bullies - therefore part of the problem, whereas the best way to prevent people from being the victims of bullies and sexists is to take a zero tolerance approach to bullying and sexism.

My view is that all that is necessary but that I don't think that - training women to be like men - is really what this is about (so I think its sales pitch is a little misleading, in a jokey way). I think it's about training women to be their best and most effective selves in a commercial environment. Crucially, giving them the tools to 'make the sale' i.e. to take all their excellent ideas and development work and be persuasive and authoritative enough to get decisions to go their way, with them acknowledged as the progenitor of the idea, the leader of the project etc.

Personally, I think learning acting techniques would be a good approach, as there's something about taking oneself outside ones normal mode of operation that can be very freeing. So, not starting form where I am, seeking to inch forward in what I already do by learning new techniques. Rather, starting from somewhere outside myself and my experience, with techniques that I wouldn't have known about.

I also think it's a money-making exercise for RADA (but why not, arts funding doesn't fall from the sky) and, that many 'beta men' would benefit from it too - but starting with women makes a lot of sense.

p.s. Obvs this course must be called 'Fake It Until You Make It'.

It can probably be turned into a reality TV format for wider educational and entertainment purposes.

Also, RADA will, no doubt, be investing the profits into a bursary for low-income, state-educated, female drama students; 'The Victoria Wood Studentship'.