Sex and beauty lead to power, at least according to the women on “The Apprentice.”
From the very first episode, the ladies have flirted their way through Donald Trump’s business games, selling lemonade with promised kisses and pushing shots at Planet Hollywood with teasing smiles.
This week’s People magazine story on Trump and Co. is a racy spread of four-inch stilettos and plunging necklines. Four of the women recently posed for the popular laddie magazine FHM for free, refusing $250,000 each to bare all in Playboy, a magazine which differs by a few inches of fabric.
And then they expect a plum position in corporate America?
I interviewed businesswomen and female MBA students who were initially drawn to the reality TV show, but were later turned off by these not-so-charming antics.
“I was annoyed when they started flirting on the street. It doesn’t say much for them as professionals,” one woman said.
“It’s the wrong message to send. They’re destroying what women have accomplished in the office over the last 25 years,” added another.
Sex as a business strategy is a quick fix, not a long-term plan.
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You might charm one person or win one sale, but you’ll lose the respect of co-workers and other managers. Plus, what about the next day?
All you’ve proved is that you’re cute, not smart. Don’t expect that route to lead to the corner office.
Katrina Campins, the “Apprentice” contestant fired Thursday, probably would disagree. At 24, Campins already is a successful real estate agent with a high-powered clientele.
Her profile on the show’s Web site begins with a quote: “A woman that claims she doesn’t use her sex appeal to sell simply hasn’t learned how to use it to her advantage.”
That didn’t seem work for her or her team Thursday, but could she be right?
It’s true that women still earn less money than men, hold fewer senior positions than men and advance less quickly than men. According to career coaches, that’s partly because women generally aren’t as aggressive or direct enough in the workplace.
So given the odds, would it be so bad to make use of our assets?
It seems to work for the “Apprentice” women. Their team, tiny T-shirts and all, routed the men a few times with sexed-up marketing tactics. The women knew what they were doing and made no apologies for it. Trump was eventually forced to make the teams coed to create real competition.
But both The Donald and one of his executives, the polished Carolyn Kepcher, warned the women not to depend on sex appeal alone if they wanted to win.
They’re smart, savvy women, why not rely on that?
One feminist answer: Because we’ll do whatever it takes. Women in the workplace should use every tool at hand to overcome the institutionalized disadvantages we face.
But the problem is that sex appeal isn’t the same as confidence, though people often confuse the two.
Ultimately, strength and assurance, backed with intelligent decision-making, wins the most battles and impress the most people.
I’m not advocating a return to the days of boxy suits and flouncy bow tie-scarfs circa “Working Girl.” There’s no need for female professionals to try to look or behave like men. Women–thank God– act, think and manage differently than guys, and we look a lot better in a dress.
Being feminine at work is absolutely appropriate, possibly even necessary. Women will gain ground in the workplace the more it adapts to who we are. Femininity plays a part in that, but it shouldn’t upstage the roles of integrity and capability.
Go ahead, be the office babe, but leave the hot pants and hot moves at home.
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