Does Gender Effect Your Guild Leadership Success?
Yes, I completely and utterly went there, because I had to.
Recently, after having come into a major position of power in my guild, I have found myself contemplating the many things I end up doing for the guild.
First, I a/am/the:
- Lead Tank of the Guild. I say Lead Tank as I know Ven hates the term “MT”, and this seems to infer more that I am the Tanking Leader, like a Class Leader.
- Second in Command.
- Primary organizer of the guild.
- Recruitment Officer.
- Only female.
- Current acting Guild Leader of my guild.
Looking at all of that, and wondering what else I forgot to add to that list, I have began to wonder if people challenge me based on my skill, personality, or something more, such as gender. Analyzing this, I noticed that I act about the same as the other officers, and belong to the same skill level as them. That leaves me to think that the reason why I have such a hard time keeping people in line is because I am female. I could be wrong though. The only reason I am even following this train of thought is because none of the other officers have had these problems. Plus a lot of our number seem to be rather chavenistic (omg, a girl tank?!). Let me explain what happened with my latest challenger. Names of people and places have been substituted to protect the innocent.
It was a wonderful sunny day in the land of bees. The citizens of bees were throwing the annual picnic, but they had to get the food first. So the mayor of bees decreed that 25 citizens would be sent forth to capture some food. The appointed citizens charged forth, and all seemed well. Soon though, some of them were tiring, trying to keep others alive as they tried to catch their wonderfully stubborn food. What was happening was a citizen in peasants garb was trying to do the job of a knight of the bees. The knight, soon tiring of the arrogant whelps idiocy that was nearly costing them their lives, sent the whelp to the back of the ranks and demanded he do his job, and not try to take others. The citizens quickly got their food, and returned to have a nice picnic.
Alright, now that the story is over. What happened was the trash tank was pulling really fast, as we were trying to clear quickly. What was happening though, is he would take a lot more damage than I would, because he is much less geared than I. So in the end, several people and myself strongly suggested he get back in ranks and do as he was asked, or else he would be kicked. Reason being that the raid nearly wiped once.
Was this harsh of me to do? Maybe. There are other people who play this game though, and stupid things will waste time. This above was just one example of many. The end result though was a baring of fangs on my part, for I am an alpha wolf, and I cannot relent once or this pack will tear me apart as it tries to get at the fresh carcass (i.e loot).
11 Responses to “Does Gender Effect Your Guild Leadership Success?”
Leave a Reply
Sydera on February 23rd, 2009
Ugh. Sometimes it is a little harder than it should be for female leaders to get things done. Be sure to enforce that authority!
And here’s my observation on new tanks, esp those who mostly tank trash. They’re trying really hard to prove their worth, and I’ve seen several go to the extent of pulling too fast or even (!) pulling threat when they’re offtanking a boss (meanwhile forgetting to put up their debuffs and help out the encounter’s MT). So, put the smack down on this trash tank until he behaves himself.
Makea on February 23rd, 2009
I constantly have to enforce my status as Alpha in this guild.
As for trash tanks, I let them tank bosses. We switch tanks on every boss unless the boss hits said tank too hard, then I take over. It seems they want more though, and I cannot allow that.
sparkle_freeze on February 23rd, 2009
Agreed! I’ll always remember how my ex Guild Master often told me to bully those out-of-line guys into submission. It’s so hard to get any respect at all when you’re a girl. The worse part of it all? They get so very defensive and sour when you beat them at tanking/healing/dps-ing.. basically anything at all.. =S
sparkle_freezes last blog post..Discipline issues >.<
Makea on February 23rd, 2009
It’s like they cannot comprehend that someone with breasts can defeat them at their own game.
BobTurkey on February 23rd, 2009
I’m still amazed that these stories are coming out. I guess i’ve been protected to some extent by being in a “mature age” guild which is about 50/50 sex-wise.
No it’s not harsh. Remember that you are almost always in the right and that the source of your trouble is almost always a teenage boy (sorry in advance to all those teenage boys out there who are actually quite mature and sensible).
BobTurkeys last blog post..Noth and the Mana Pot
Makea on February 23rd, 2009
Sad thing is, we have an age requirement, and most of the flak are coming from guys in their late 20’s. o.O;;
lexicanum on February 25th, 2009
We love you wukki! from the dps side!
You are the only one besides irock with experience to tank things right anyways. Thanks for your hard work! =D
Makea on February 25th, 2009
Bukki on February 26th, 2009
=/ Guess that’s why I heal now.
Makea on February 26th, 2009
You tank wonderfully love. Its because I usually am tanking a boss because you always pass it to me.
You taught me how to be a tank.
sabithaii on March 23rd, 2009
I am one of two GM’s, being the only female to be in this position I find that all of my guild members listen to me more so than the male GM. Maybe because I don’t take their crap and he’s a bit of a softy. We are atm merging alliegance with another guild to complete 25 man content and the other GM from the other guild is male but he speaks to me in regards to everything,strange? Not to sure on that one, but I look after our website and make sure everyone is organised well in advance to raiding e.g. food buffs, flasks etc.
I guess some see me as a mothering figure others just have a silent respect for how much I actually do in guild. I know one factor if it wasnt for me the guild wouldn’t be anymore I stitch the seams back together once i see them falling apart. But I have had some guildys(they didn’t last long) who have tried to go above me on certain subjects,I think the rest of the guild tends to pull them back into line