ARE WOMEN TO BLAME FOR POOR REPRESENTATION AT SENIOR LEVEL?
We take ourselves out of the workforce for childrearing, we don’t put ourselves forward for opportunity so much and we are more easily knocked back.
At home we settle for ‘second career’ – even if that’s not what we intend, even after we are back at work full time, meaning we can’t pursue all the opportunities our partners can. And we use up our mindspace, time and energy on a disproportionate amount of domestic tasks and responsibilities.
Research reveals, in general, women consider ‘me time’ any time after they’ve looked after work, partner, home and kids. Men consider themselves free for domestic duties and time with their partner/family after work and ‘me time’ needs are satisfied.
But of course the situation women find themselves in is not their ‘fault’.
Society has expectations, we’ve been brought up to please and to take the burnt chop for ourselves.
Unconscious bias is like a gravitational force – it’s everywhere, holding us back and releasing male counterparts to run forward. We are hard-wired this way psychologically, not just sociologically. We are always swimming against the current.
Aside from the all-encompassing force of ‘society’ which influences everything, there are three areas of focus, some of which we DO HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE, to reduce the force of the current.
This week I’ll be unpacking this highly contentious issue. I’m ready for your responses, encouraging or damning.
Let’s go.
