The Sunday New York Times runs a major feature on women bullying women at work, relying heavily upon the 2007 survey conducted by the Workplace Bullying Institute and Zogby pollsters:
It’s probably no surprise that most of these bullies are men, as a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, an advocacy group, makes clear. But a good 40 percent of bullies are women. And at least the male bullies take an egalitarian approach, mowing down men and women pretty much in equal measure. The women appear to prefer their own kind, choosing other women as targets more than 70 percent of the time.
I’m especially pleased that it reminds us right up front that men are more likely to be bullies, even if female bullies tend to target other women.
Gary Namie (Workplace Bullying Institute), Joel Neuman (SUNY-New Paltz), and Loraleigh Keashly (Wayne State) are among the leading researchers quoted and mentioned in the article.
For info on the 2007 WBI/Zogby Survey
This is the second time this year the Times has examined this topic.
FOLLOWUP (May 11): The Times piece is provoking strong reactions from the blogosphere, including commentators who are questioning the focus on female bullies when, according to the WBI/Zogby Survey, 6 of 10 tormenters happen to be male.
