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IZOLDA TAKÁCS: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
as a mother was not completely present after that, and this could be considered
a huge disadvantage in a leadership role. All of my subjects have also reinforced
the (sexist) myth claiming the different character traits of men and women
are manifest in their relationship towards tasks and duties.
Men tend to claw at the walls sooner, for example, ifthey need to shoulder the office
duties. Women are more likely to handle them than men. Perhaps also because
women have already learned that they need to find a path between the set gates.
Ihey grow up with the notion that they need to find the back doors, because they
cannot push forward otherwise. Thus, they practice it in the family. Women tend
to be on the power trip in the family. This is a typical female trait. (Subject no. 21,
natural sciences)
The above makes it apparent for me that, while the interviewees refer to the
“typical” traits they are born with, they — albeit mostly indirectly — admitted
to these rather being “acquired” traits (cf. they “learned” that they “need to
find a path between the set gates” [Subject no. 21, natural sciences], “woman¬
hood suffers from it” [Subject no. 20, social sciences]). These categorisations
reflect the known and taught codes, philosophy, deeply rooted prejudices of
the society to a much larger extent, and are not necessarily built upon biolog¬
ical differences. Most members of this group also elaborated that their main
goal throughout their career was to not detach themselves from research.
Moreover, some argued that, in their opinion, achievement is very closely linked
to self-respect in the case of men (see also the occurrence of hegemonic mas¬
culinity and “libido dominandi”*”). Their experience shows that men gladly
take on a committee position when women would consider that wasted time.
Moreover, they stress in every single case that they are not leadership material,
while lots of men are very happy if they can be a “boss”:
They feel they have found their place in such a case. Women tend to consider this to
be a burden. (Subject no. 8, human sciences)
The members of this group have a common opinion that this otherness is
completely in its right place, for women and men are fundamentally different.
This does not mean for the group members, however, that they represent
something of lesser value, only something different. Women need to prove
their worth only in the scientific field and not in leadership positions.
Well, I think we just need to show in scientific communication that we are better.
274 Cf. Hadas, M.: A libido academica narcizmusa (Pierre Bourdieu: Férfiuralom), Replika (47-48),
2002, 175-194.
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