“A society that doesn’t protect unpopular ideas is one that is probably doomed.”

In a study currently under review, Anderson and Flynn report that while both Howard and Heidi were rated as equally competent (they were the same person, after all), students described the female version of the character as overly aggressive, and were much less likely to want to work with or hire her. So the decisive, assertive traits that are often valued in leaders are received very differently when observed in women than when seen in men. Howard was a go-getter. Heidi was unlikably power-hungry.

Catalyst’s research is often an exploration of why, 30 years after women entered the work force in large numbers, the default mental image of a leader is still male. Most recent is the report titled “Damned if You Do, Doomed if You Don’t,” which surveyed 1,231 senior executives from the United States and Europe. It found that women who act in ways that are consistent with gender stereotypes — defined as focusing “on work relationships” and expressing “concern for other people’s perspectives” — are considered less competent. But if they act in ways that are seen as more “male” — like “act assertively, focus on work task, display ambition” — they are seen as “too tough” and “unfeminine.”

First, culture relies on men to create the large social structures that comprise it. Our society is made up of institutions such as universities, governments, corporations. Most of these were founded and built up by men. Again, this probably had less to do with women being oppressed or whatever and more to do with men being motivated to form large networks of shallow relationships. Men are much more interested than women in forming large groups and working in them and rising to the top in them.

Multiple research studies show that men and women exhibit similar leadership styles, according to Catalyst. Another “double-bind” dilemma, the group says, is that female leaders face higher standards than male leaders and are rewarded with less. Then there’s the “competent but disliked” quandary, Catalyst says.

“When women exhibit traditionally valued leadership behaviors such as assertiveness, they tend to be seen as competent but not personable or well-liked,” Catalyst said in a summary of its report.

European women have overtaken men in their Internet take-up, a report published on 14 February suggested

Women represent a good half of the number of users of the web and even more on social networks.

They make over 80% of all real world consumer purchases and according to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard run across 7 countries recently, women now shop more online than men – though they spend less. Some of the reasons for this being security issues and bad website design.

Guess who was rated significantly less competent than all the others? Yup, the angry female CEO. Brescoll noted that the group said they viewed angry females as significantly more “out of control.”

A star-studded cast turns out for “Prop 8 - The Musical.”

Millions of people across the country work from home. For many, the freedom of being their own boss and working their own hours sounds like a good deal. But there are some downsides to that, and a Utah County man has a solution.

Jack Hadley
“It’s kind of the alternative to putting a laptop under your arm and heading to Starbucks and meeting your friends there. This is a place where you can come and go,” explained Jack Hadley, owner of Cowork Utah.

Hilarious Ad for the Auto Industry.

2008 was the year that Web 2.0 became more mainstream. More ad agencies, businesses, and non-profits used Web 2.0 tools as a way to build community and relationships, cross promote products and issues, and integrate their online and offline marketing strategies. Some like Zappos were extremely successful and nailed their Web 2.0 strategy while others like the makers of Motrin were burned by mommy bloggers for not doing proper research on their target audience.

Meet @missrogue , a contact from from Twitter connections. She was waiting yesterday for a delivery from UPS. Waited all day, don’t you know. Heard nothing. Throughout the day she posts her experiences and growing frustration on Twitter. It is

Just send a quick direct message to TrackThis and we’ll send you a direct message any time your package location changes.
Depending on how your account is set up, you can get the updates for your shipment on the web, through email or SMS. We support FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL tracking codes.

Now it is important to for everyone who cares about this issue to harness our energy and focus on next steps. What can all of us do to advance the cause of full equality for LGBT people? What should the strategy be in California for regaining the fundamental right to marry? What can we do in California to promote equal federal recognition of same-sex couples? What resources can each of us bring to bear to get this work done? We need your best thinking in order to take action on these very important issues.