Before we start, I will acknowledge, that, this morning I went to my nearest bathroom to take care of nature. I found this magazine while in the bathroom and began to read it. Now that we have that out of the way:
Beth Levine, the author of the article, uses sweeping generalizations about men in her article "think like a man". She isn't feminist or insecure: the article discusses what women can learn from men. Her article misses the entire point: she is describing, in her generalizations, traits that women can learn from. Instead, she claims that all men behave a certain way. This is a gross view of the opposite sex. She states that men:
-don't worry obsessively
-don't fear workplace clashes
-are not perfectionists
-aren't nit picky with looks
-ask for what they want
Worst Case Scenarios
Levine states that men do not jump to the worst case scenario. This shot right over the mark- in fact, a lot of men do worry about worst case scenarios. The author offers a statistic to convince her readers that what she is saying has merit: that 33% of men at any one time suffer from generalized anxiety. This may be true, but it seems difficult to measure. Come on, Levine. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is much more common among men than you think. One sweeping generalization from her "source" is that women constantly had to protect the children. This could be immediately offensive to some women, but the nature of many mammals may say otherwise. With that in mind, that does not necessarily validate Lavine, or her source.
Workplace Conflict
Lavine says that men do not take workplace matters seriously or personally, and that "it is just business". The attitude of "it is just business" is a good one to have, honestly. Women also can have this attitude. I am not trying to say that 50% of men and 50% of women are equally balanced on the chance of avoidance, but I am not pinpointing exact numbers, either. Personally, I don't care. Women aren't the only sex that want to "avoid discord" between people; even if women are more likely to think that way. The "man up" response is that not all work place conflict is bad. I absolutely agree with this: agree to disagree. There are no attacks unless they are blatant, or subtlety detected.
Men aren't Perfectionists
There is one sweeping generalization that I agree with here: men improve the condition of something, say, a dirty house, and say "works for me". That sounds totally like a guy, to be honest. Many men are perfectionists and workaholics: trying to provide for their family and maintaining a good portfolio of traits. In fact, I would say that men are trying to be perfectionists (with life) more than women, but that is just my opinion on the matter.
Men don't nit pick with their looks
Absolutely false. Men may not nit pick as much as women (that statement, I agree with), but the above generalization is wrong. Worse, the author blames men for wanting more from a woman as the reason for her increase in time for nit picking. Come on Levine, that is a weak excuse. "Men look for youth and beauty" says another source. Fine, but they are looking for way more than that. Youth and Beauty, while on my top 10 list of things I desire in a woman, is farther on the bottom, with #1 being attitude and personality. Another sweeping generalization claims that women see their looks as "defining who they are". Not necessarily, and the woman that believes this needs to have a reality check.
Men ask for what they want
"Being pushy goes against most women's insticts". I don't believe this generalization for one second. In fact, I believe it is the other way around: women are more pushy than men to get what they want. In the workplace? probably not. Another "source" says "Even when we try, we are deemed too high-maintenance". This isn't necessarily true- when asked by many females over the course of my life, I told them that they did not seem high maintenance. Others, yes.
If the article meant to empower women, it did its job- but for the wrong reasons. Take what you will from this article- there are too many generalizations that are the product of today's stereotypes. There is good in this article to be found, but it is highly opinionary- even from the sources with a doctorate.
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