What kind of Dominatrix is Barbara Erwin?

I used to be a faithful Today Show watcher. That changed several years ago when, following a ratings dip, the show was changed; becoming less about hard news and more about fashion, celebrities and diet.

My wife, who previously would have skipped the Today Show is now a working woman who gets dressed while faithfully listening/watching. That's how I almost got "into trouble" this morning.

She was in the bathroom, hairdryer on full blast, but was still able to catch me changing the channel on the bedroom TV. I started channel surfing because Today was interviewing this week's pop-psychology author. Now, caught by my wife, I reluctantly (or should I say dutifully) returned the channel to NBC.

That's how I "met" Lisa Robyn and learned about her book, The Corporate Dominatrix.

The publisher says, "Using the psychological and theatrical tools of the professional dominatrix, Lisa Robyn shows women how to role-play their way to success.

For a dominatrix in everyday life, the key to effectiveness lies in being switchable–knowing when to be firm and direct and when to be flexible and accommodating.

A Corporate Dominatrix dominates without being domineering and is submissive to authority (when necessary) without being subservient. She stands up for her rights in an open and straightforward way, and she is confident enough to intuit what her clients or colleagues want and she responds accordingly.

The book promises an examination of office behavior as a sociopolitical, neurotic phenomenon, and provides business-minded women with a set of rules to roleplay by.

I always thought a dominatrix was a dominatrix. Mai non. Little did I know, there are different styles of domination; some rather submissive. She stoops to conquer.

Six roles to play to get your way at work

Robyn presents "a compelling strategy for women to get their way at work by choosing the appropriate role to fit the particular situation, while always behaving in a professional manner that earns respect," and encourages women to "become the mistress of your domain" by employing the tactics of the six mistress archetypes of The Corporate Dominatrix: Goddess, Queen, Amazon, Governess, Nurse, and Schoolgirl.

You can even take a quiz to help identify your own particular neurosis, oops, I mean you own particular archetype. Girls only. No boys allowed.

For the rest of you...

You have been bad. Now, prepare to get your butt kicked.

While listening to Robyn's explanation, I couldn't help thinking of our own favorite dominatrix, Barbara Erwin. All the news stories, and comments on this blog from folks who know her, convinced me that she must be a dominatrix. She certainly has our school board licking shoe leather.

But what kind of dominatrix is Barbara Erwin?

Check out the archetypes. Take the quiz if you want. But share your opinion in a comment. We'll see which type "wins."