The human body is wired to perceive sexuality as an important factor in life. Sexual desires can be triggered even before puberty sets in, though the extent of those urges may vary from person to person. For men and women alike, sexuality remains one of the most powerful tools for attaining personal goals. The way a man or woman approaches sexuality affects their career trajectory, professional relationships, and perception within the organization. It is no secret that sex has often been used as a tool to gain advantage or favor in workplaces across all levels.
It also plays out differently among different genders and individuals. This paper explores how sexuality influences allocation of high-value projects, career-enhancing tasks, and visibility.
High-Value Projects
A study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology showed that sexual harassment is commonplace in many organizations around the world. Women are especially vulnerable to this kind of abuse because they tend to be more prone to reporting incidents than men. Researchers found that supervisors who engage in such behaviors receive higher compensation and promotions than those who do not. As such, women who report harassment have fewer opportunities to pursue high-value projects than those who remain silent about them. This is due to several reasons including the fact that sexual harassment creates discomfort in the workplace, which may result in reduced productivity. In addition, women who speak up against such misconduct may be labeled as troublemakers and undesirable employees. On the other hand, some employers may use sexuality as an advantage by using it to influence decisions on project assignments. In other words, giving a female worker favored treatment may increase her chances of being given important jobs over others.
Career Enhancement Tasks
Sexual attraction can influence task allocation in organizations.
A man may give a particular job to a woman he finds attractive even if she lacks competence or skills for it. Consequently, the male employee will be seen as a good performer while the female colleague remains underutilized and unappreciated.
Such favoritism leads to inequality within the organization. The same applies when a boss prefers assigning tasks to someone he or she has had sexual relations with. Those workers will often prioritize their personal interests above professional duties since they feel obliged to please their managers.
This affects the company's performance as well as the overall productivity of the team. It also makes others feel resentful and demoralized.
Visibility
The visibility of men and women at workplaces differs significantly because of sex differences. Women are more likely to be relegated to administrative roles while men take on high-profile positions in most cases. A study published in the Journal of Social Issues found that heterosexual couples receive better treatment at work than those who do not engage in sexual relationships. This is because most companies tend to view them as stable units that could benefit from promotion. As such, they are placed in visible roles where they interact directly with customers or clients, leading to increased income. Men tend to enjoy more benefits from sexual interactions at work because they have greater power and control over resources. In contrast, women rarely get promoted after having sexual relations with supervisors or colleagues due to gender discrimination.
In what ways do sexual relationships alter allocation of high-value projects, career-enhancing tasks, and visibility?
Research has shown that individuals who engage in a relationship tend to allocate their time and energy differently compared to those who are single. In particular, those who are in a romantic partnership may prioritize spending time with their partner over other activities such as work, which can impact their productivity at work.