Facebook COO Attacks Gender Stereotypes

Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, slammed gender stereotypes, saying these hold back women when it comes to the workplace.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Sandberg said women are less liked as they become more successful. On the other hand, men are more liked as they move up the corporate ladder. She said that women are penalized for being women.

The panel session included six speakers, five of which are females. The irony of the Davos event is that only 17 percent of the delegates are women. To address this, organizers are requiring the top 100 company-partners to attend and include at least one woman in the delegation.

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said prejudices against women have helped her become a better boss. She said she grew up in a household full of boys and she had to elbow her way in.

She said she listens more and is more attentive to those who are not as assertive but have so much to contribute.

Viviane Reding, meanwhile, said companies are now forced to improve the situation and bring more women in company boards in Europe. In her presentation, Reding sowed that women make up only 15.8 percent of Europe’s company boards.

Despite the low number, this is actually an increase from last year’s 13.7 percent.

Reding is the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.