This was in Adam Grant's weekly newsletter which focused on generosity. I thought it might resonate with you all. I think notetaking is a task in the workplace where women are often asked to do more invisible work. Can you think of invisible work you take on?
2. The double bind of generosity for women
When I searched for stories to illuminate the data about achieving success through helping others, most of the ones I found were about men. I failed to recognize one of the major causes of that disparity: when men help, it stands out more.
Psychologists find that we tend to stereotype men as ambitious and women as caring. This means that women are more likely to be asked for help—but less likely to get credit for it.
When a man says yes, he gets showered with praise and rewards. What a mensch! I never expected him to care about another human being. If a woman says yes, it’s taken for granted. She loves to help.
Meanwhile, if a man says no, he gets away with it. He’s busy. If she says no, she gets punished. What a ***. As a result, women get stuck with far more than their share the office housework, the non-promotable tasks, and the invisible mentoring.
It’s the 21st century, people. It’s long past time to stop expecting women to do thankless work—and start dividing tasks equitably, both at work and at home.