"Queen bees" syndrome is a relatively recent term used to describe working women who rise to office and then bully and refrain from helping lower-ranking female employees in the workplace, due to the "threat" they may pose to the "queen bee" chances of the job.

According to experts in public relations and job psycho-reinforcement, "queen bees" may make the work environment miserable and unbearable for their female subordinates, and once they have enough authority they may hinder the progress of female employees, and in some extreme cases they may practice sexual discrimination against female employees and cause them to resign or be fired from work.

Warriors for supremacy

First defined and terminated by psychologists at the University of Michigan in 1973, "queen bee" syndrome describes women who are uniquely in a position of authority in a male-dominated environment and treat subordinates more critically and severally if they are female.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, England's first chief physician, used the term in 2014 when she described her own experience in the health sector. "I've seen that especially in medicine, queen bees enjoy being the only woman in the field and reject any females trying to excel," she said.

One of the most famous examples of women alleged to be "queen bees" in their specialty is the UK's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, who has been described as a "queen bee" for not promoting senior female careers in her government.

Thus, experts believe that women are discriminated against because of this syndrome in addition to reducing their opportunities in the labor market because of sex. In recent decades, for example, there has been a significant increase in the number of women in employment. But when it comes to managerial and leadership positions, women remain sharply underrepresented at the board level.

For example, a scientific study published by the British network "BBC" found that out of 7,44 companies in 15 countries around the world, women make up only <>% of boards.

Margaret Thatcher has been branded a "queen bee" for not promoting top female careers in her (European) government.

Pervasive phenomenon

Jennifer Aniston, the American actress and the owner of the prominent role in the series "Friends" (Friends), says that the phenomenon of "queen bees" faced her in her career, and according to the site "Leva App" for women's interests, Aniston pointed out that she was often subjected to worse treatment by some women in her job than her male colleagues, and faced several cases in which she was marginalized and intimidated by women.

To shed light on the repercussions of this phenomenon, University of Arizona professor Alison Gabriel conducted a large-scale survey analyzing workplace interactions between men and women in the United States. The study revealed that women are often more likely to feel abused by their female colleagues than their male counterparts.

Signs that your boss is a "queen bee"!

In order to be cautious and feel comfortable in the workplace, it is important for a woman to be aware of the signs and symptoms that the "queen bee" is characterized by. Evidence that a high-ranking female employee is involved in this syndrome includes:

  • The existence of a hostile or competitive work environment among female employees.
  • Isolate female subordinates and disrupt their potential.
  • Refusal to give confidence or recognition of female employees' achievements.
  • Make female employees feel inferior.
  • Preference and promotion of male employees over females regardless of professional performance.

It is helpful for the manager to have strong support from women who can help her feel responsible (Shutterstock)

How to avoid "queen bee" syndrome?

While there are many reasons why a woman may be a victim of "queen bee" syndrome, the most common include feeling threatened by other women, wanting to be the only person responsible, and feeling that others are incapable and incompetent enough.

There are a number of ways to avoid falling victim to Queen Bee Syndrome, including, according to Quit Guineas, a human resources and business management website:

  • If a woman begins to notice that she does not support others in her work, or if she finds herself feeling competitive or resentful towards them, she should take a step back and ask herself why.
  • It's also important to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and to be willing to give others the recognition they deserve.
  • In addition, it is helpful for a woman in charge to have a strong support system of colleagues and friends who can help her feel responsible and warn her when falling into negative behaviors.
  • It is important that responsible women are positive and supportive of others in the field, both professionally and personally, because they will inevitably need support if they are in their place.