Sisterhood Betrayed: Women in the Workplace and the All about Eve Complex

Women who betray other women in the workplace--backstabbing and conniving their way to the top--are the focus of this look at a problem that is by no means unique to female employees. The authors seem to expect sisterhood to be sainthood. The ``All About Eve Complex'' is the coinage they apply to office politics--an allusion to the 1950 film in which Eve Harrington (played by Anne Baxter) betrays Margo Channing (Bette Davis). According to the authors, Eves, in the act of sabotaging their ``sister'' employees, undermine their own talent and self-esteem, while unsuspecting Margos--the victims--sometimes become insecure Eves, betraying others in order to protect themselves. Barber ( Starring Mothers ) and Yale researcher Watson present dozens of cautionary horror stories based on interviews with women in middle- to upper-level management. They suggest ways for the reader to tell if she is harboring Eve traits, and offer guidance on guarding against manipulative Eves without acting manipulatively. (Feb.)