Assertive or Aggressive? Rethinking Gendered Email Norms at Work

Workplace communication has experienced considerable change over the past few decades, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The emergence of remote and hybrid workplaces has made written communication, especially emails, an important part of work interactions. This change has heightened traditional gendered communication styles, calling into question how men and women communicate at work. The Human Resources (HR) function plays a pivotal role in navigating these evolving communication norms, ensuring inclusivity while balancing efficiency.
A new viral challenge, “Email Like a Man,” has created controversy on social media, especially among working women. The trend prompts women to remove all polite language, exclamation points, and hedge words from their emails-characteristics considered “feminine”-to sound more forceful and authoritative, akin to men. Supporters believe that having a blunter tone can empower women to receive professional respect and advancement. However, critics advise that it may perpetuate gender stereotypes instead...