Getting things done or not

Sorry, but this week’s post is about those “Martians” (as in Men Are From Mars; Women Are From Venus) and whether they get things done or not. In a way it relates to a previous post called “Women Do”. The difference being that women do get things done quickly and – not all but a lot of – men do not get things done at all, let alone quickly.

For example, there was a Human Resource issue, regarding training advice in hygiene protection a few years ago and some men were asked to deal with it. There were meetings; there were talks; there was a dismissal and a review of training processes. Then all was quiet and it seemed the issue had been resolved.

However, as this issue involved vulnerable people, a woman kept watch to see if the issue would rear its head [phallic pun intended] again. It has.

(A sombre piece of information is that the issue seems to precipitate from a woman, the trainer, who seems to hold an unshakeable belief that certain people who are vulnerable are also ‘dirty’ and cannot be touched – except with gloved, latex-clad hands.)

So we return to the same training room two and a half years later.

The ‘woman who watches’ now gives all who visit that training room a “pop quiz” after the event to see if latex has been mentioned. After a training session this week, the same thing happened. People were advised not to touch the intact, non-infectious skin of healthy people, who are vulnerable, unless they are wearing gloves.

The ‘woman who watches’ rang the men and one said, “oh god, wasn’t that fixed last time?” The other said, “We’ll have to check that out and get back to you”.

This is but a sample of wide spread male malaise. “No child will live in poverty…” springs to mind. How many wars and conflicts have been the last – with a promise of world peace reigning supreme?

Now that I live with a man I am well aware of how often they do not get things done or have to be reminded. I ask myself “if women are a species of doers and reminders, what might happen if we ruled the world? …but we’d still have to pay the telephone bill :-)



References

Mars and Venus website http://www.marsvenus.com/ Accessed: 5 February 2007