How are women in PR perceived?

Equal rights is normally an issue at every workplace. The PR industry is no exception. Although, I feel that it may be slightly different in this profession. I may be wrong, but looking at the salary gaps for men and women in public relations, this calls for a bone of contention. Apart from salaries, battles in maternity leave and the infamous glass ceiling have been an issue for some time also. However, this may have changed in some companies, but still continues to be an issue for debate.

The other day I was talking to a friend about the rise of women in the PR industry. I asked him what he thinks about men and women in this profession, his answer was, generally, women tend to be better communicators and pursuasive as compared to men. It doesn't mean that men are not good at communication, don't get me wrong on this, but women seem to have better listening skills and are more sensitive in facilitating two-way communication.
For instance, women are seen to be good at consulting because they understand the value of relationships and emotions. Hey! hey! hey! Now, that’s not to suggest that men aren’t good at that -- Just that women tend to come by this more naturally, they are biologically hardwired to want to make connections with people and build relationships on trust and mutual respect, an important skill in consulting. Mmhhh...don't shoot me on this guys.

What expressions are used?
As Catherine Arrow points out in her article on PR Conversations "expressions such as ‘PR Poppet’, ‘Fluffy Bunnies’ and ‘PR Bunnies’ are rife, and these, along with other descriptors.., undermine and denigrate both the profession and women." This shift in balance towards women tends to lead to much stereotyping. In their study, Frohlich and Peters’ ("2007) in a journal of Public Relations Research, reveals the "evolution of a “PR bunny” stereotype that adds a negative touch to the female image as “natural born communicators.”

Another observation is that when some people think of women in PR they think of images of Lizzie Grubman or Samantha Jones in the Sex and the City. Stacy Nobles, management supervisor at Peppercom in New York, argues in her article on TV portrayals of women in PR are bad for our industry,published in PR Week (2005), that "to have her (Lizzie) as the face of PR is frustrating to those of us in the industry ... especially to the real "Power Girls." Mmhhh! What is your view?