Does a woman who uses her femininity and physical attractiveness in the workplace create advantage or disadvantage for herself?

Certainly, there have been compelling arguments on both sides of this issue but the general consensus has been that a woman could indeed use physical attraction and femininity to gain advantage in the workplace. However, a recent study “Sex as a Tool at Work: Flirting to Success or Flirting with Disaster?” (Tulane University, 2005) suggests that flirting in the workplace may adversely affect a woman’s career.

When women first began to enter the workforce in large numbers, they generally kept sexuality hidden and their home lives strictly compartmentalized and separated from their workplace. More recently, the lines between professional and personal lives have blurred. Women are now, increasingly, letting their femininity show. Is this good or bad? Does this create opportunity or disadvantage for the woman? It certainly can be argued that a good smile and good looks can get one’s foot in the door more effectively than a “rock-solid pitch”.

The Tulane study questioned 164 female business school graduates as to whether they had used various forms of flirting as a tool to get ahead in the workplace. The “various forms of flirting” was defined as 10 specific behaviors such as “I wear a skirt or something more revealing than usual around clients or supervisors to get attention”, etc. 49% responded that they had engaged in at least one of the ten sexual behaviors defined. The average age of the respondent was 43 and she had gotten an MBA 12 years ago. Of the 49% that responded affirmatively, they had earned an average of three promotions and had a salary in the $50,000-$75,000 range. Of the 51% that indicated they had never engaged in any of the 10 “flirting” behaviors, they had earned an average of 3 raises and had a salary in the $75,000-$100,000 range.

Among the conclusions that researcher Suzanne Chan-Serafin says she takes from the study are: “When women use sexuality at work, they are viewed as more feminine and thus less than equal.” and “Sexuality is really a short-term power source.” The study had a small sample size and is by no means scientifically rock solid but it does raise some provocative questions.