Mongrel's management Manual

The Kiss of the Doberwoman

One of the first things a new starter – or even an old finisher - in an organisation needs to know is how to spot danger. Unless they can do this they will be liable to all kinds of risks and depredations.

Some of the concepts mentioned here might seem a bit dated to the Young amongst you but really nothing has changed. Most of our female pollies are bred from good Doberwoman stock. Affirmative action will only cement their suffocating status and keep other women down.

In the 80’s the concepts of EEO and EEIEO and Old MacDonalds generic mutants came into being..and a new and sinister breed was identified in the farmyard. It had existed forever but in the same way bullying and cruelty morphed into ‘domestic violence’ the Doberwoman had not been labelled. Such creatures were portrayed by many writers over the ages..of women. And as TS Eliot said the Naming of cats is a difficult matter ..so is the naming of other species. Viz give a dog a bad name..

The creation of the Morribund government’s new ‘portfolio on women’s safety’ was somewhat undermined by its personnel; a more egregious selection of dangers to womankind has rarely been appointed under the banner of ‘women’s safety’.. Not since Pru Goward as Minister for Women who managed to destroy most of NSW’s women’s services – has such a powerhouse of self-interest (or maybe no interest..)been gathered..

So I’m writing this to alert you dear Reader/Listener to beware of The Doberwoman. Generally she manifests as a fast moving (usually upward) streamlined creature with killer instincts. Although she appears to enjoy the thrill kill for its own sake the Doberwoman generally seems to operate under instruction from some unseen (male) supremo who has her on a leash..albeit a very long one. If you look closely you can see the pull on their collar to..for example: Scotty defender of all things female. Up to a point..Maggie Thatcher was one of the few Doberwomen who was completely self-propelling. Unless God had her on a string..

Originally this warning was written for people in the workplace – A Commonwealth government department back in 1991 - but it applies equally to anyone who has dealings with the breed in any capacity…

For women who are not yet Queens in their castles – and even for men- this is one of the most dangerous predators lying in wait for you on the slippery slopes of the Career Path. Anyone who saw Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl (and there are more recent examples..) may already be alert for these proclivities in supervisors, managers and even undervisors..

Two characteristics are barely noticeable unless you know what to look for: The Smile ..which bares fangs but doesn’t linger any longer than strictly necessary (not after you’ve gone past in the corridor..). At its worst the Smile can cryogenicise lesser animals. Freeze them into submission..

The Doberwoman manages to pass by and ignore lesser beings – for example if she comes into the room/workplace and people say”Good morning Ms Doberesse” she will usually sweep on by without replying. Alternatively, she may greet a favoured pet animal while giving the rest no time of day at all..or the death stare.

Another manifestation is the Matronising put down..e.g “You’re SO intelligent..what a pity your photocopying skills are so inadequate…”..or to someone who has just missed out on a job..”you must realise” - said in the tone of the friendly torturer *”it’s not What you know it’s Who you know”..which of course one always expected from the Old Boy’s Network in the Old Blighty but hoped would have melted away in the heat of fair go(ing) in jolly Old OZZ ha ha as if..

Variations on this matronising attitude can include blatant rank pulling in the interests of ID, EEO & OH & S, affirmative action or whatever the current buzzwords are (of which initiatives the Doberwomen are always in the vanguard). Quotes from Real Life (or mine, being an imitation thereof..) ”I’m the Manager and you’re only a (lowly worm or Level minus 0 in the public service..].. or “you’re not paid to think at that level” (to someone who has successfully managed a small enterprise..) “You’re only a (lowly worm..)”.

Lack of consultation with staff (cos why would ya?? Whadda they know??) who then get the blame if whatever it is doesn’t work out..and lack of recognition that undervisors (LWS) maybe have anything to contribute is prevalent in the Doberwoman breed..Good luck with any good result from the new Portfolio Gang of Four (plus two men..)

Another Doberwoman nostrum (when you point out that something absolutely doesn’t make any sense and is inefficient, ineffective and a fecking mess)...”you just do it because I say so”. Isn’t that management violence? Doesn’t that remind you of your ex ..husband..father..mean male boss?

Nor does the Dober inform lesser mortals as to why things happen or in what direction the business/section/ department/state/country etc might be moving because Control and Withholding of Information is the key to the Dober’s powerbase..we also have to allow that the Dober might not have a clue anyway..

Taking away the dignity (or dognity) of other animals and belittling them is a big part of the Doberwoman’s MO as is judging by mistakes and damning with faint praise..undervisors can also be Doberwomen in training and just as destructive and cruel through undermining and other forms of sabotage.

This isn’t an exhaustive profile of of the high risks you take in dealing with Dobers – and don’t think that no men play these games. Many Doberwomen (lawyers? Judges? Pollies?) were trained in male dominated kennels.

What makes the Doberwoman syndrome worse to a lesser animal is the hurt felt when you share confidences because she seems to be sympa and understanding..) and get betrayed. Next time something goes wrong the Dober will use your manifestation of human frailty to beat you over the head..no matter how low you go, she will go lower to get at you..

On a macro level, Advancement (viz affirmative Action in the Parliamentary system) of this kind of critter does not in any way constitute a plus for women generally..it is merely a statistical progression and not a Great Leap for Womankind!!!

Please dear Reader don’t think that this definition applies to you..unless the collar fits, of course.

PS..After reading the original article back in the day (1991) or listening to my Analysis, many people of all genders realised that they were dealing with Doberwomen (displaying psychopathic traits) and that it was not their fault that they were being dogminated. So although I’ve been criticised for labelling women as witches and bitches, I feel justified by having saved some victims from the management violence they were enduring and blaming themselves for. The current recognition that coercive control is a big factor in domestic/family violence may mean that all such behaviours will be called out – and stamped out! Yay!

A TRIBUte to Grace Tame who gets it – but mightn’t want to read about it!!

*torturer (vis News from a Foreign Country came by Alberto Manguel)..

Extract from The Mongrel’s Management Manual – a work in progress – backwards. © 2024