We need to publicize and celebrate women who “break glass ceilings”
More than ever!
In almost every field, women have equaled or proved themselves better than their male counterparts. Yet they are not making the progress they deserve, despite their academic credentials and potential. Thanks to a few stereotypical notions, women are stalling out at the workplace and it gets worse as they go higher up the corporate ladder.
Here’s why it’s getting extremely necessary for women workers to be out there and promote themselves, to shine on the top.
Lack of access
Its a common observation that women get less access to the senior management and are disadvantaged in many of their daily interactions and opportunities that accelerate their career. As a result, the higher you look in companies, the fewer women leaders you see. More often than not, women have to shamelessly ask for opportunities and access to get their voice heard in the organisation.
Sense of inequality
There’s a clear inconsistency between how women perceive opportunities for advancement and how their company sees it. Compared to men, women are less likely to believe they have equal opportunities for growth and development, and more likely to think their gender will play a big role in losing out on a promotion, hike or opportunity to get ahead.
The family factor
A woman’s road to the c-suite is full of hurdles. Unfortunately, there is a sense of constrained choices in terms of career progress related to gendered roles outside the workplace. Employers placing subtle pressure on women to quit or not offering equal opportunities when they are pregnant has become a common malpractice across organisations. Even post childbirth, the long working hours force women to make a tough choice between their family and career.
Men and Women are not promoted the same way
Men are promoted on potential and women on performance. This is another crude stereotype that still exists in many organisations. While women are judged on what they actually do, for men their promising outlook or potential is just enough to win the day. Even while moving roles and switching jobs, women have had to prove themselves again each time they changed employers, while men have earned the extra bonus and salary hikes with every switch.
Questioning leadership skills and capabilities
A huge misconception deep-rooted across many organisations is the idea of women being perceived as emotional and soft in demeanor. They are often seen as having inferior rationality and reasoning skills compared to their male counterparts. This makes not only competing for strategic CXO positions a challenge but contending for competitive pay, an uphill battle as well.
Women have to work harder to prove themselves better
In most jobs dominated by men (military or law enforcement), women have to work harder and for longer hours to prove their worth. Unfortunately, women workers (especially in men dominated fields), have to not only break past this initial misconception to get into those jobs, but also continue to break down walls to be placed in management positions as well.
