MARK ZUCKERBERG –
Talking to Joe Rogan, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook talked about rediscovering and celebrating his masculinity through martial arts and archery. He told Rogan that … “I think a lot of the corporate world is, is like pretty culturally neutered. …. And it’s like, it’s, I think I don’t know, there’s something — the kind of masculine energy I think is good. And obviously, you know, society has plenty of that. But, but I think corporate culture was really like trying to get away from it….And I think having a culture that like celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive. And that’s, that has been, that has been a kind of a positive experience for me. Just like having a thing that I can just like do with my guy friends and like, and it’s just like, we’re just like beat each other a bit. I don’t know. It’s good…. I do think that if you’re a woman going into a company, it probably feels like it’s too masculine. There isn’t enough of the energy that you may naturally have. It probably feels like there are all these things that are set up that are biased against you. That’s not good either because you want women to be able to succeed and have companies that can unlock all the value from having great people, no matter what their background or gender….But I think these things can always go a little far. And I think it’s one thing to say we want to be kind of like welcoming and make a good environment for everyone. And I think it’s another to basically say that masculinity is bad. And I just think we kind of swung culturally to that part of the kind of the spectrum where it’s all like, okay, masculinity is toxic. We have to get rid of it completely. It’s like, no, both of these things are good, right? It’s like you want feminine energy. You want masculine energy. Like, I think that that’s like you’re going to have parts of society that have more of one or the other. I think that that’s all good….But I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung towards being this somewhat more neutered thing.
What is Zuckerberg’s point? He certainly is reifying the gender binary, and treating it as opposites, rather than seeing it as a continuum. And he is implying that businesses are “weaker” because they have sought to reduce “masculine” aggression – he wants to return to the playful sporting of masculine banter with his buddies — to retrieve masculine aggression and rescue men from the feminine. But reflect on this-recent data shows that women hold less than a quarter of the world’s board seats, and the representation of women of color is even lower. So are they really emasculating their organizations and their men? Would businesses really be better off reestablishing the norms of masculine aggression and all of the harm that it has caused, especially to women?
Let’s examine the evidence regarding the business benefits of including women and minorities in the workforce. The evidence is clear – diversity in leadership pays off when women and minorities are in the boardrooms and C-suites – they drive financial growth, heightened innovation, and enhanced productivity!! The result is that these companies are not only encouraging more equitable workplaces but are also gaining a significant competitive advantage. The landmark McKinsey & Company report, “Diversity Wins,”
revealed that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than their counterparts in the bottom quartile. The financial benefits are even more pronounced for ethnic and cultural diversity, with top-quartile companies outperforming those in the fourth quartile by a remarkable 36% in profitability.
Catalyst, a global nonprofit focused on workplace inclusion, indicates that Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women on their boards of directors experience significantly higher returns on investment, sales, and equity.
Why is this so? Diverse teams come from a broader range of perspectives and problem-solving approaches, known as cognitive diversity, which enhances decision-making. The Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis found that firms with gender-diverse boards tend to hold more patents. They have a broader range of ideas and a more inclusive culture that encourages creativity and the exploration of novel solutions (INGENUITY). When employees see themselves reflected in the leadership of their company, it fosters a greater sense of belonging and inclusion (MUTUALITY). This, in turn, leads to higher levels of employee engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty, reducing turnover and its associated costs (INTRINSIC MOTIVATION). And the presence of women on boards has been linked to better attendance records for all board members and a greater likelihood of involvement in monitoring committees. This increased oversight can lead to more accountability from the CEO and a stronger focus on long-term, sustainable performance (JUSTNESS).
What Mark Zuckerberg is saying reflects masculine insecurity, not good business sense. And his view is well shared by many men as they seek to reassert their dominance. As we say in the book, “Never underestimate the power of patriarchy.” Ironically, it is the masculine insecurity of men like Zuckerberg who have real power that retards the progress in achieving gender and racial parity in the highest echelons of business.
The data is quite clear: companies that embrace diversity in their boardrooms and C-suites are better positioned for financial success, innovation, and long-term sustainability. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the ability to attract and leverage a diverse range of talent at all organizational levels will be a key differentiator for success.
Mark Zuckerberg recently advocated for more “masculine energy” in corporate environments, suggesting that the corporate world has become “culturally neutered” and needs to embrace aggression and traditional masculine traits.
Context of Zuckerberg’s Comments
Reactions and Implications
The Broader Discussion on Masculinity
In summary, Zuckerberg’s advocacy for more masculine energy in corporate culture has ignited discussions about the balance between traditional masculine traits and the need for inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. The implications of his statements continue to be debated among commentators and experts in gender dynamics.