Over the weekend, I read a book entitled: Type Talk: The 16 Personality Types That Determine How We Live, Love and Work by Otto Kroeger & Janet M. Thuesen. I shared Chapter 2: "What's Your Type?" with my family. Two members matched their Personality Type description perfectly and were amazed with the insightful profile that defined them. The others fall so far in between the eight categories that multiple types defined bits and pieces of who they are.
Personally, I was disappointed - not because I fall in between categories, but because of how the authors viewed gender roles. Of the eight personality types that are Thinkers, all 8 are more acceptable as a males in society. Females are viewed as "out of step with the mainstream" and are "not readily associated with women in our society." My favorite was for the category dubbed "Life's Natural Leaders":
"Gender issues are especially significant for ENTJ females. As a type, their arrogant, confrontational manner and need for control can appear to be quite 'unwomanly' to others. Efforts by parents and others to mold them into more traditional female images are usually met with rebellion. Other women usually resent the arrogance of ENTJ females and can feel 'talked down to.' As a result, an ENTJ female may unwittingly find herself to be a loner, something particularly difficult for Extraverts."
Those words are harsh for the women that fall particularly into that category. As I mentioned my personality overlaps multiple types, but I happen to be an ET - Extraverted Thinker - that is typically a male personality.
Let me re-state: I'm not disappointed with the authors' blunt viewpoint; but rather, I'm disappointed that I fall into the typically male personality category. Why is it that males dominate the Thinker category? Is it a natural-way-of-life explanation? Or are females taught to expend their energy other ways? Could it be that a female hasn't been elected president, because there are more men in the leader category? Or is it a gender issue that hasn't been resolved?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Personality Tests have been used by many organizations. I took my first one in 1970 and the last in the 1990s.
It seemed HR used this test when a consultant sold the value (?) to an organization.
The most popular being the Myers & Briggs Personality test.
I did find the personality portion of the test to be accurate for many people (including myself)for that particu;ar point in time and how I was feeling that day.
The leadership portion was questionable because the questions were slanted and biased based on someones (usually male)interpretation of what a leader is and supposed to be at work.
The personality portion is based on the teachings of Carl Jung.
The big problem with these tests are the "Labelization" that can be attached to a worker's profile.
Labeling people at work is just a dangerous as labeling students while they go through school.
Tests are a snapshot (based on a point in time) that do not accurately portray an individuals knowledge, personality, etc... over an on-going time period.
You raise some very interesting questions and comments about these tests. They are exactly what is wrong with these type of tests that label one based on others interpretation of what is, what was and what will/shall be.
The biggest danger point is how the results are used and by who.
Unfortunately, I have found many bosses that use them in a negative way.
I enjoy your Blog and love the title!
I couldn't agree with you more. Even though many people wish to define themselves, they struggle with being labeled; however some feel that is better than the alternative. Life is so complex that there is a constant challenge to explain human actions. By doing so it creates an order to the chaos.
Post a Comment