Gender differences seem to be a topic of ever-growing interest these days. No longer encompassing just that one shelf back in the “feminist” corner of the local independent bookstore, the amount that is being written and studied on gender at this point in time would take at least … Read on >
In my research and interactions with people (mainly male people) I meet at conferences, I have found it fascinating how my word choice either opens up or stymies a conversation on marketing to women. If I use that particular phrase (”marketing to women”), men often assume what I’m talking … Read on >
We feel like we’ve come so far as a culture, don’t we - and yet… the gender debate continues. While gender equality has been legislated into much of the public arena, the problems on the private side - how each individual experiences or deals with gender roles or stereotypes … Read on >
Holly Brubach wrote a great piece for the most recent NYT Style Magazine on how “manhood in America has an image problem.” In it, she looks at three new books on various aspects of that topic - Guyland by Michael Kimmel, Brocabulary by Daniel Maurer and Hysterical Men by … Read on >
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:
1) Please read this book.
There will be more from me, once I’ve had the chance to read it myself, but in the meantime (and if you are game), I strongly suggest you take … Read on >
“Gender stereotypes.” In and of itself, that topic can be a big downer, can’t it?
When simply saying those two words makes pretty much anyone, male or female, squirm (and think “uh, oh, here we go … Read on >
1) Al Ries published a great piece on megabranding (or not) in the latest Advertising Age. The question he explores - do consumers want as much choice as brands seem compelled to give them? One example he shares: Five years ago, a typical Coca-Cola bottler … Read on >
As 2007 ended and “top trends” for 2008 were released by every marketing consultant and his/her brother, I reflected a bit. How far have we come? Has marketing to women, as a field of business study, evolved as quickly as its subject has? Are there any big new trends that … Read on >
I’ve been writing about a gender trap recently - in that lots of brands are still approaching the women’s market at the extreme of the gender pendulum (in an overly “girly” manner) when they don’t need to. One way to demonstrate this is to talk about brands that are marketing … Read on >
Leadership and the Sexes: Using Gender Science to Create Success in Business
by Barbara Annis
"The future of corporate success (especially with women occupying 50 percent of the workplace) lies in women and men both becoming gender intelligent in negotiations." This book is HR/leadership-focused, but there are significant implications for marketing team effectiveness and the understanding of today's consumers.
Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men
by Michael Kimmel
Kimmel offers incredible insights on how young men view their own masculinity (and why). The way men think, in general, will be key to the broader gender trend conversation of the 21st century - with some major marketing implications (if you ask me).
The She Spot: Why Women Are the Market for Changing the World -- And How to Reach Them (BK Business)
by Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen
Social change driven by women - how much more hopeful about our world could you get? This book is well-written, and its nonprofit advice also applies, for the most part, to corporate marketing.
Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow
by Chip Conley
I'm a big psychology buff, so this application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the business realm fascinated (and resonated) with me. As Conley mentions, psychology in business has long been about "fixing it," but that won't necessarily "offer the opportunity for transformation to a more optimal state of being or productivity." Everyone can learn from this discussion.
The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women and the Real Gender Gap
by Susan Pinker
A fascinating examination of how sex differences play out over the life span. One interesting quote: "For most women it's less a question of who's able to win. It's whether competing feels good and is worth the cost."
