Modern feminism issues: Has the definition of success evolved over the years?
The motto of this year’s International Women’s Day was “a call for parity”. In 2016, equality within the workplace is a bigger topic than ever before. The good news is that now the conversation is filled with more than just complaining women. More and more men are joining in and that’s great. We all want to help women break the glass ceiling, close the pay gap and increase their participation on C-Suite. We all want women to be successful!
The bad news is that our definition of a successful woman hasn’t evolved much over the years. She is confident, dynamic, bold, great negotiator, takes risks and–above all–she doesn’t show any signs of weakness! That last bit is the most important piece! As women, we fully accept this definition and we tirelessly climb our way towards it. Why? Because if not, we believe that we will be perceived as weak and we won’t be considered for the next opportunity.
There is nothing inherently wrong with trying to manage the way others see us. The problem is that, in essence, we want to be perceived as men.
Our female qualities and characteristics are the ones who make us a great asset to the organisations we work for. We can be great managers because we are good listeners, we can put our ego aside, and we take well informed and justified risks. Our ability to show vulnerability, ask for advice and admit that we don’t have all the answers is what empowers us to lead successful and engaged teams.
We shouldn’t denounce our feminine qualities just to look normal and win acceptance in the boys club. Because guess what? If we are all the same, the club will be terribly boring!
We need to advocate for a truly diverse work environment, where women don’t need to act like men in order to get promoted. We should treat our differences as strengths upon which we build our brand. It’s crucial that we offer a different perspective on each male-dominated conversation. This is exactly why we should be in the room. Before finishing a strategy meeting, ask the people in the room to consider how the team is going to feel about the changes. And yes, it’s perfectly fine to use the word “feel.”
Luckily, feminism has become modern and fresh. Women realized that no battle can be won without allies. Fortunately for us, there are more and more men willing to advocate for women’s right to equality. They actively advocate against the glass ceiling, the pay gap and they willingly share their part in parenting. However, there is still the belief that if you are a woman, who wants to succeed professionally, you need to sacrifice something else. In lots of cases, this is your ability to be your true self.
