CAN MACHISMO BE MANAGED?
The American tradition of tolerance does not extend to machismo. We intensely disapprove of customs that limit women, even if motivated by desire to protect them. Nor do we leave our own biases behind once sent abroad. Nonetheless, when dealing commercially with such behavior, it seems commercially prudent to move beyond passive disapproval and toward active management. The tool that makes such management effective is prior research—examining specific variants of this behavior as we examine any foreign business problem—then adjusting our behavior in ways that still sustain our dignity. Thus, when working with Islamic businessmen, American businesswomen should consider four guidelines: • Accept that fact that belief systems restricting local women may restrict you. If so, neither private resentment nor public tolerance will be as effective as active management of those aspects of that system that impede the flow of business. • Each local variant must thus be analyzed before arrival. Res
