The price of networking for women – 02/16/2024 – Deborah Bizarria

We all know that the famous “networking”, or building networks of professional and social contacts, is a powerful tool in any individual’s career.

These connections are essential for advancing in working life, offering access to opportunities, knowledge and new perspectives. But is this process equally beneficial for everyone?

Several studies highlight the benefits of connections and social capital, including improvements in status, promotions and increased pay.

However, much of this research focuses on mostly male samples, generally assuming that results applicable to men can be extended to women without distinction.

So, to explore the specific effects of network formation for both men and women, Siyu Yu and Catherine Shea conducted a detailed analysis.

In the survey, participants assessed the level of respect and influence of their co-workers and also identified their networks. Each person’s status was calculated as an average of the ratings they received, including ratings from people within each network.

Thus, it was possible to evaluate the impacts of gender on instrumental relationships, that is, those that require professional assistance or access to other resources.

The results reveal that instrumental connections with high-status individuals tend to lower women’s status in groups, compared to connections with low-status individuals or the absence of such connections.

In other words, women received a punishment by acquiring greater social capital. How to explain this phenomenon?

Yu and Shea reinforce the notion that obtaining attention from high-status people requires assertively initiating interactions and requesting information and resources in a competitive environment.

However, when women are perceived as assertive and imposing, they tend to be seen as unfriendly and of low status, a repercussion of the culture in which women, more than men, are expected to prioritize the needs of others to the detriment of their own. own interests.

Thus, it is assumed that a woman focused on building a network centered on high-status individuals is acting for her own benefit, to the detriment of others.

Against this background, the question arises: how can women obtain high-status connections without facing reprisals? The study proposes a strategy: signaling the benefits for the group.

In one experiment, participants evaluated a fictitious woman who sought to build a network with people of different status levels in her work unit. One group of participants were not provided with information about her motives, leading them to fill in the gaps with stereotypes and evaluate her as too dominant and insufficiently gregarious, lowering her status as a consequence.

However, for another group of participants, crucial information was revealed about their motives for cultivating their network: the purpose of networking would be to benefit and promote the interests of their group.

In this context, the effects of reprisal disappeared, and women were considered to have a higher status.

So all is not lost. Additional analyzes by the same researchers indicate that connections with high-status people through expressive relationships such as friendships and social support, for example, tend to entail fewer status costs for women. This is in comparison to high-status instrumental networks, which include seeking advice, requesting resources, and forming political alliances.

Therefore, leaders and managers can encourage employees to develop meaningful bonds with high-status individuals.

Additionally, organizations can restructure networking opportunities in ways that explicitly signal a sense of community.

For example, networking events could be reimagined as group lunch gatherings, promoting a more inclusive atmosphere for working women and parents.

Recognizing and overcoming gender stereotypes is crucial for all professionals, promoting the formation of meaningful connections that go beyond personal benefit, focusing on quality, trust and mutual support.

This approach not only supports the advancement of women in professional networks but also enriches the social and professional fabric as a whole, ensuring that the power of networking is beneficial regardless of gender.

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