Gender stereotypes still in the 1950s, Davos delegates told
Ms Sandberg, whose book, Lean In, on women in the workplace will be released in March, singled out particular T-shirts in the US with the boys' version emblazoned with the words "Smart Like Daddy", while the girls' version said "Pretty like Mommy".
"I would love to say that was 1951, but it was last year," she said. "As a woman becomes more successful, she is less liked, and as a man becomes more successful, he is more liked, and that starts with those T-shirts."
She blasted managers who unconsciously reflected stereotypes when they judged women's performance by saying "she's great at her job but she's just not as well liked by her peers" or "she's a bit aggressive".
"They say this with no understanding that this is the penalty women face because of gender stereotypes," she said.
"Women still have two jobs in the most developed countries around the world; men have one."
She said that from the moment they left school, the message for women was: "Don't you want to have kids one day?"
Ms Sandberg was appearing at a panel session in Davos where five of the six speakers were women, the opposite of the gender balance at many Davos events.
Only 17 per cent of delegates at the high-powered event were women even though, in an effort to increase their representation, the organisers insisted that the top 100 "strategic partner" companies that attended, and which could bring five delegates, must include one woman.
Many, however, chose to bring only four rather than include a female executive.
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said her experiences of overcoming prejudice had helped her be a better boss.
"I grew up with brothers, I grew up in a man's world, and you had to elbow your way in," she said. "I listen more; I'm more attentive to those in the back of the room that sit in the dark and don't want to talk but have a lot to contribute."
The European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding, presented data showing that women made up 15.8 per cent of company boards in Europe, up from 13.7 per cent a year ago.
She said companies had been forced to become more diverse by the European Commission when it declared it would legislate to improve the situation.
"Since the moment I threatened that if there was no progress then I would put up legislation, there has been real progress," she said. "Sometimes it needs a little push."
Ms Reding said it was crucial for workers to be provided with proper childcare. "This is an issue for men as well as women."
Elsewhere at the forum, the European Central Bank president, Mario Draghi,said the optimism surging through the stock exchanges of Europe showed that normality was returning.
But he did not expect the economic recovery to begin until the second half of this year.
With the eurozone still in recession and unemployment at record levels, he insisted that the pain was "emphatically" worth it, and that the economy still had many strengths.
"The euro area economy in its entirety has performed better than anywhere in the past 15 years," he said.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Sheryl Sandberg told Davos delegates that gender stereotypes still shape how women are seen at work. She used examples like US T‑shirts that praise boys as “Smart Like Daddy” but girls as “Pretty like Mommy,” and argued that as women become more successful they are often liked less while successful men are liked more. She linked those early messages to the workplace penalties women face.
Sandberg warned that managers can unconsciously apply stereotypes in reviews — saying things like “she’s great at her job but not as well liked” or “she’s a bit aggressive.” The article says this kind of language reflects a penalty women face because of gender stereotypes, which can hinder promotion and career development.
The article reports that only 17% of Davos delegates were women. Even though organisers required the top 100 strategic partner companies to include one woman among five delegates, some companies sidestepped that rule by sending only four delegates. For investors, such low representation can be a visible sign of broader leadership and governance gaps in corporations that are worth watching.
Yes. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said her experiences overcoming prejudice made her a better boss: she listens more and is more attentive to quieter contributors. The point made in the article is that diverse leadership styles shaped by different experiences can benefit organisations.
European Commissioner Viviane Reding presented data showing women made up 15.8% of company boards in Europe, up from 13.7% a year earlier. She said the prospect of EC legislation forced companies to improve diversity, noting “sometimes it needs a little push.”
According to the article, the Commission threatened legislation because progress on board diversity was slow; that threat prompted companies to become more diverse. Commissioner Reding also emphasised the importance of proper childcare for workers, saying it’s an issue for men as well as women.
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said optimism surging through European stock exchanges suggested normality was returning. However, he did not expect the wider economic recovery to begin until the second half of the year, noting the eurozone was still in recession with record unemployment even as he highlighted the euro area’s resilience over the past 15 years.
The article highlights three investor-relevant themes: persistent gender stereotyping can affect leadership pipelines and corporate culture; regulatory pressure (like the European Commission’s threat to legislate) can change board composition; and macro comments from leaders such as Mario Draghi signal timing and sentiment for market recovery. Investors may want to monitor company board diversity, leadership policies (including childcare and inclusion), and economic outlooks when making decisions.
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