Do not laugh! Humor in women is bad for the career, according to the study
You're funny, you're in a good mood, you're quick-witted? Really not good if you are a woman. Not good at all! Sure, you could now think that your joke stands for creativity, your mood pulls the whole team up and you could use your quick-wittedness in the interests of the company. But that would be a complete misjudgment, because actually you are an imposition. That was at least a panel of panelists in the US. While giving top grades to funny men in presentations, women with humor were quickly thought to be incompetent.
Humor in presentations ... like, but only if you're a man
For the study, two groups each received the same CV from a person with the gender-neutral name Sam. Some saw funny and serious presentation videos of a female Sam, the other videos with a male Sam. To evaluate was the question of whether humor of the presentation rather harms or goodtut. In addition, the groups were asked to rate the competence of the respective Sams and to scale their position in the company. Surprise, Surprise: Of course the male funny Sam was viiiiieeeel more competent than the funny women Sam version. He also had a higher position and his jokes gave his presentation the necessary whistle. The serious women Sam, however, came on better than the serious men Sam. She seemed to be much more competent without fun.
Should we go to the basement to laugh?
What does that mean to us, who we are funny and competent? Do we have to go to the underground garage to laugh? Please do not please! For one thing: Perhaps the study is wrong. Second, perhaps German subjects would have decided otherwise. And thirdly: Do we really only want to have dogged goats in management positions? No? Then let us be pioneers and laugh at the very top!
