Are women psychologically predisposed to cattiness?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

No women are not pre-disposed to cattiness.

There are plenty of men and women that will disagree with me. It's my experience that men are just as catty as women.

sharann, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

I think people who feel POWERLESS are prone to cattiness.

LydiaNN · Sep 25, 2005

I've read people's accounts of drama within the nursing team, as well as experienced cattiness firsthand. Are women naturally catty? I'm not a female misogynist, but it seems that more drama seems to arise around females. My theory is that women tend to be simultaneously competitive and social, which creates a need to differentiate "us" vs. "them." Women also tend to be more passive-aggressive, discussing the problem with peers and gaining satisfaction from having security in a group. They also tend to bond over emotions. This conception seems to span across time in stories of senior polygamyous wives mistreating younger wives, courtesans and geisha knocking out competition with cruelty and occasionally hitmen, and the precarious world of high school friendships. What are the psychological differences between male and female, if any?
While working in a group home, I fair amount of drama. A rumor went around that I was a stripper, and nothing was said to my face until I quit. Instead of asking me, they asked my male coworker, who they were going to hold responsible as an accomplice(?) if I indeed had that kind of a night life, for covering up for me. A couple girls actually went to the local club where I reportedly worked at, but of course found nothing. I found that my mail had been opened. I overheard them calling me ugly and scrawny. My male coworker said they were all jealous of me b/c I was the only one who wasn't a high school dropout or overweight or doomed to low-paying jobs. I quit because I started a new semester with a heave courseload and couldn't juggle a job and school, and also b/c I didn't want to risk my male coworker's job b/c he had a family to support.

In the first place, IMHO the behavior you're describing isn't catty, it's hostile. Cattiness is petty and mean spirited in nature, but not malicious.

And I agree with Tweety, I've known just as many catty men as women.

Mirai Kangofu · Sep 25, 2005

No women are not pre-disposed to cattiness.
There are plenty of men and women that will disagree with me. It's my experience that men are just as catty as women.

I guess you're right... I haven't worked around many men.

fluffwad · Sep 25, 2005

I think people who feel POWERLESS are prone to cattiness.

I absolutely agree................healthcare management tends to be very non-supportive of its staff. In 22 years I've only encountered one place where I trusted the management....a non profit hospice.

fergus51 · Sep 25, 2005

No, we're not.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Nope Nope, not going here.

Thank you, though.

~faith,

Timothy.

Alpha13 · Sep 25, 2005

I think it's true. Who gossips more? Who's physically weaker? Who has been socially programmed to be more passive (which results in catty behavior, rather than more aggressive behavior you see in men) This isn't meant to knock anyone, men do a lot of stupid things too.

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Sep 25, 2005

I think that men and women sometimes handle things in different ways.

I don't think that men are absolutely one thing and women are absolutely another.

I think that every individual person sees their own reality a little differently than any other person (Hence the whole individual thing.

I think that any small group of people who are 'forced' to spend large amounts of time together (kids, adults, men, women, whatever) will eventually become "catty". -Atleast to some extent.

I think that professionals need to conduct themselves as such.

I think that there is a difference between bickering about a coworker to let off a little steam, and spreading lies that could potentially jeopardize someone's career.

I think that if more people took appropriate action against slander in the workplace, there would be less slander to deal with.......Well, maybe I don't think that, but it would be nice.

...........But that's just what I think.

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Sep 25, 2005

I think it's true. Who gossips more? Who's physically weaker? Who has been socially programmed to be more passive (which results in catty behavior, rather than more aggressive behavior you see in men) This isn't meant to knock anyone, men do a lot of stupid things too.

OH BOY!! :eek:

:chair:

:smokin:

Corvette Guy · Sep 25, 2005

No women are not pre-disposed to cattiness.
There are plenty of men and women that will disagree with me. It's my experience that men are just as catty as women.

:argue:

Yea, I'll definitely disagree with you on this particular viewpoint. BTW, my wife is an RN, and she too believes that a majority of female RNs are "Catty". By Catty I mean being passive-aggressive, and talking behind someone's back. I've noticed [been in the health care field for over 10 yrs; 3yrs CST & 7yrs RN] that the majority of Male RNs are more straight forward with issues. Nonetheless, I've seen plenty of passive-aggressive male nurses & surgeons. So, I'm not saying that all female nurses are catty & all male nurses are more direct. Yet, for the most part ... YES, female RNs tend to be Tigers that eat there young. This fact [oops, I should say IMHO], is another reason why nursing would benefit from more heterosexual Male RNs.

*I thought Tweety would like that added comment.