Women Power: Executives in the Golf Course
Glass ceiling is the term used to describe the existing disparity between male and female executives in the country. It is an abstract structure within most companies wherein the shortcomings of a female executive is attributed to her gender, while her successes to her abilities as an individual. On the other hand, the shortcomings and successes of her male counterparts are attributed to their abilities, not their gender. Since the shortcomings of the female executive are attributed to her gender, the bias is carried over against all the other female executives, affecting their future promotion or hiring for higher executive positions.
After the hippie movement of the ‘70s and the yuppie revolution of the ‘80s, you would think that the corporate playing field between the two genders has more or less leveled by now. Sadly, the boardroom and high executive positions are still dominated by men. Labor laws have evolved and adapted more progressive views on the fairer gender in the recent years, but the male dominated business world has adopted its own subtle and legal measures to preserve its status quo. One such measure is the grass ceiling, a variation of the glass ceiling. The grass ceiling is the golf course where bonds are formed and strengthened, and important and male executives make last minute policy and business decisions. Women executives are usually left out of these crucial decision making opportunities because they do not play golf. If they play they are not confident about their skills, or they are not interested in the game.
But women executives are fighting back. More and more women are beginning to acknowledge the importance of golf to business and their careers. Country clubs and female professional golf players have been holding golf clinics specially designed for lady executives; and the response has been overwhelming. Most attendees admit that the primary reason for attending the clinic is career advancement; but the general consensus seems to be enhanced confidence, not just in their golf skills but also in their overall competitiveness against their male counterparts.
Ruth Ann Marshall, North American Vice President of MasterCard, is among the new breed of female executives who have successfully cracked the so-called grass ceiling. Marshall learned the value of golf through the various social and civic organizations she joined. She recalls being the lone female member of the boards of such organizations; how she would participate during their weekday meetings, only to be surprised after the weekend upon learning that the decisions she participated in where hastily changed after a few rounds of golf. She recalls with a smile the surprised reactions of her colleagues and previous superiors when she confided during a casual conversation how she had a problem with her short game as well. That unassuming event led to weekend golf invitations where she noticed that not only did she connect with her peers and bosses more during a game; they also started taking her seriously whenever she spoke about work. Today, Marshall is spearheading her company’s campaign to sponsor not just golf but women’s golf; she hopes to bring to the consciousness of other companies that female executives are a viable golf market.
It estimated that there are around 6.6 million female golfers in the United States; out of the 6.6 million, 2 million or 30% of these women golfers are women executives; and these figures are expected to rise steadily in the coming years. A recent survey conducted by Golf Digest reveals that 92% of women executives watch the PGA Tour, 84% watch the LPGA, 79% agree that golf is an ideal setting for getting to know someone, 73% say golf has helped their careers because of its social and networking opportunities, and 70% believe a player’s golf etiquette parallels their business etiquette.
Building relationships should be a natural skill for women, being the more intuitive and nurturing of the two genders. Yet for some reason, these very same skills have been used to discriminate against them in business. But what was yesterday’s difficulty is today’s opportunity for women executives. Golf and business go together because the two are really about building relationships; and sound relationships translate into good business. Golf should be the ideal venue for women to once again get in touch with their intuitive and nurturing side while staying within the metes and bounds of business.
