Why Typical Career Advice Doesn't Work for Women

Promoting women could hurt your career—if you’re female. Senior women who help female employees advance are more likely to get negative evaluations from their bosses, a recent study of hundreds of company executives shows.

The research adds to evidence that for women, even seemingly straightforward career choices are rife with potential negative consequences. Other studies show that a woman’s career suffers if she doesn’t have a professional advocate, sometimes referred to as a sponsor. The repercussions for older women who champion female upstarts, however, might limit the number of women willing to play that role.