We have often read pieces focusing on a male dominant workplace – a workplace where women may feel subordinate or where the discussion of equal pay comes into play. It’s a topic that has dominated headlines from time to time over the years, but very rarely do we hear about workplaces that are dominated by women. By industry standards, Public Relations is a field that is owned by women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 61.3 percent of the PR industry, which is vastly more than the financial and business sectors where women constitute 43.6 percent of the workforce.
So where does that leave the men? As a male in a woman-led industry, I can you tell that there are certain stereotypes for a male that has chosen PR as his occupation. People think that you must be gay or insane. I can you tell that isn’t true. I’m married to a woman and wouldn’t consider myself insane. I chose PR because it’s an industry that allows me to do the things that I love and provides something that every company needs – whether they believe they need it or not is a different story. I like to write, argue and move the needle for clients. I love the industry and it’s an industry that has been good to me from day one.
With that said, working with all women has its challenges. I’m the only male account person in our office and out of more than 20 employees, only three are men (including myself). Our office has more of a female culture and that’s to be expected. I’m not often asked to join a “girls night out” or hang after work. That’s cool with me. My colleagues don’t ask my opinion on the latest fashion or drama-filled TV show. I’m good with that. Many believe that women dominate PR because it requires a large investment in relationship building and communication. Two areas where women excel and men often don’t. Just ask my wife (only kidding). This begins in college with the selection of a major. I majored in communications and I can say that each class had nearly 75 percent women, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the trend continues in the professional world.
The truth is that working with almost all women has its benefits and has allowed me to perfect my communication skills. Working with mostly women always brings a different dynamic to the table and I’ve learned that there are really four things that a male needs to own in order to excel in that environment – patience, compassion, communication and collaboration.
Let’s start with patience. Women are emotional creatures. While men tend to be more relaxed in our approach, women have a tougher time hiding their emotions. It’s part of what allows men and women to work so well as couples. We balance each other out and that must come into play in a work environment, as well. As an account team leader, it’s my responsibility to manage and understand a variety of personalities and skillsets. That requires a great deal of patience and understanding.
Next is compassion. You must listen and understand. You have to let a colleague vent about their frustrations and realize what makes them tick. You have to learn to push the right buttons and know when to take a step back. That’s not to say that you don’t take a similar approach with men, but the nuances of the situation change. Listen, listen, listen and show compassion and empathy and your working relationship with each female colleague will evolve well.
Last is communication and collaboration. Men sometimes tend to work better alone, but women do a better job of working in teams. This is where communication and collaboration come into play. In the PR profession, each account is constructed of different personalities and specialties and it’s imperative that everyone communicates and collaborates. It’s an area that I’ve improved in over the years because of the amount of time that I’ve spent working primarily with women. I’m so thankful for that experience, as it’s not only helped me grow in my profession, but in my personal life, as well.
Working in a female-dominant workplace has its challenges, but those are vastly outshined by the advantages. Always remember to be patient, show compassion, communicate and collaborate and you can succeed as a male in the PR industry. Just don’t expect to be asked to join your female colleagues at a Justin Timberlake concert.
