About Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
“I spent most of my career in business not saying the word 'woman.' Because if you say the word 'woman' in a business context, and often in a political context, the person on the other side of the table thinks you're about to sue them or ask for special treatment, right?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Women in the Workplace, Facebook, 2015
Avoiding gendered language in business can prevent bias and legal concerns, but may also silence necessary discussions about equality.
In simple terms: Skipping the word “woman” can hide gender issues.
Key Takeaway
Address gender openly and responsibly.
Themes
gender bias
communication
workplace equality
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
leadership
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- HR policies
- salary negotiations
- leadership training
Key Concepts
feminism
legal risk
inclusion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we discuss gender without triggering bias?
- What policies support inclusive language?
A Different Perspective
Silencing gender can perpetuate inequality.
![“[Eric Schmidt] explained that only one criterion that mattered when picking a job- fat growth. When companies grow quickly, there are more things to do than there are people to do them. When companies grow more slowly or stop growing, there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_eric-schmidt-explained-that-only-one-cri_16526.jpg)
