Sandberg brings up a vaild point in todays corporate gender inequality. She blames women and their lack of confidence for the discourse in women represented in higher positions of the world. I agree with her to some extent, women are underepresented in the workforce partically due to thier own lack of conifdence. However the gap is so large that this single contributing factor cannot be the only underlying cause of women misrepresented in the workforce. In my opinion there are two additional factors that overwhlemingly contribute to the small amount of women that hold high positions in politics, corporate America, and other prestegious positions.
The first factor is the interest of women in general. We hear about this in early childhood education, they call it gender rolls. Little girls tend to play with dolls and like coloring books, while little boys like to play sports and fight G.I. Joes (there are exceptions). The same idea can be applied to the straifcation of women in the workforce. If you walked into a college and counted the number of women in business they would often be the minority. Not because they aren't smart enough for a business degree but because busniness simply doesnt interest them. On the other hand if you walked into an early childhood classroom women are the ovewrwhelimg majority because it is a topic that they find interest in and are more comfotable with.
The second factor is de facto segeration. In the 1950s women had little to no rights in the workplace; their job was to simply stay at home, cook the meals, and take care of the kids. Things changed as history progressed and now it is considered more acceptable for women to enter the workforce and as a result more women are taking the path as working citizens. Being a woman is conisdered a minority and as a result women are sometimes hired based on the fact that they are women. While sandberg brings up a good point that many women are more qualified for the positions that men are in, she states that they lack the social confidence to recieve the job. If they lack the confidence to recieve the job then they are not as qualified to be in the position they are aplpying for, thus making them a lesser candidate to their male coutnerpart. The women who are in positions of power are there simply because they had both the credentials and confidence to be there. The result of this selection process is a select few women who are very good at their jobs and develop a sense of prestige in the corporate world for their gender and women who are average and dont really impress, but whose presence gives future generations of women more confidence to join the work force. My point is this, yes women in the workforce might not be growing now and Sandberg may be able to cite a few years of sagninent numbers but this is due to the shift in responsibility that still is in the process of taking place. It has only been a few decades since women were seen as complete non factors in important matters and if you give it time and the numbers will continue to grow.
So what do we do to solve it? Nothing. The reason women are not in the work force is either by their own choosing, the sluggish shift (but it is shifting) in social norms, and the lack of confidence they have for positions (which some of them are still getting over men). If you give it time and let the problem work itself out women will gain confidence and their numbers will increase naturally. Hopefully one day in the future we will get to a point where women and men are represented equally and then are judged equally for their positions.
I like the interesting twist you put on your thoughts. I would not have thought to take it all the way back to childhood, but in many ways you are right. It seems to be drilled into our heads from day one. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI think that you made valid points about why women aren't present in upper leadership. However, I think that there are things that can be done to push the shift in social norms. This can start with employees suggesting things to their employers like flex time. This alone will encourage more women to enter and stay in the workforce even it they have families.
ReplyDeleteI love your take on the gender norms and how we have got into this way of viewing women that may have put them in that box. I agree with Jenna's comment before me with their are things that can be done ot help push womens numbers in leadership up quicker. They flex time is a great suggetsion, but also have better firm culture and possibly a daycare onsite or a contract with a daycare. Allowing women to feel more comfortable will lead to better employees. I hope as well women and men equal out in the workplace. Diveristy is always a better thing, especially in the 21st century.
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