Workplace Incivility Against Women Is Getting Out of Hand

Women tend to deal with myriad obstacles on their path to growing their careers. Several reports show that workplace incivility is one of those challenges.

A 2023 report by McKinsey & Company found that women are twice as likely as men to be interrupted in the workplace, twice as likely to receive comments about their emotional state and 1.5 times more likely to see a colleague take credit for their work.

Additional research indicates that long-held gender stereotypes fuel incivility against women.

“For women specifically, incivility may exacerbate existing challenges related to gender discrimination, unequal treatment and lack of representation in leadership roles,” said Carol Howley, chief marketing officer at London-based marketing firm Exclaimer.

A separate report showed that women reported experiencing more incivility from other women at work than from their male colleagues. Women who were targeted by female colleagues often reported:

• Being addressed in unprofessional terms.

• Having derogatory comments directed toward them.

• Being put down in a condescending way.

• Being ignored or excluded from professional camaraderie.

“This is not to say that men weren’t acting uncivilly,” lead author Allison S. Gabriel wrote in Harvard Business Review. “Rather, the frequency was higher between women and their female counterparts.”

Our inspirational speakers and leadership training programs can help foster a culture of civility and inclusivity in your organization. Together, let's build a better future of work.