Ambiguity as Social Control: The Salience of Sex-Status in Professional Settings.

Contradictions in belief and ambiguities rooted in culture cause confusion without many being aware of its sources. The resulting strain is unevenly distributed. The problems women face are complex and have roots in the conflicting views of women's worth, woman's place as well as the time overloads of role demands and the conflict in the priority system. The maintenance of ambivalence, of cross-pressures, the double binding of women, the manipulation of rewards and punishments all create a system of social control which has served to undermine women's equal participation in society. Women are not only not rewarded but also not punished in their professional lives the same way that men are. It is only by keeping alert to the hidden agendas and to the sabotage in both macro- and micro-interactions that women can do their job of work without having to figure their way out of mazes. (BN)