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Workplaces need to adapt to welcome more women

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STP Team
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Arianna Huffington Picture By: AdWeek

Women have been trying to climb up the corporate ladder for decades now, and except for a handful, most of them have been unsuccessful. One of the biggest reasons for this is the unsupportive nature of most organizations. Gender disparities between male and female employees, lack of opportunities, maternal leave policies etc. have together prevented women from receiving their due.

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According to The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington, the co-founder and editor in chief of The Huffington Post Media Group, once collapsed due to exhaustion and incurred several injuries. She however, isn’t alone. Most women who wish to actively pursue their careers have to often take on two jobs- actual office work and household responsibilities.

 

For some reason, a woman who works outside her home and isn’t involved with household work is somehow seen as less of woman. Studies reveal that even in families where both men and women work full time, women are the primary caretakers of children and elders. Managing all such responsibilities singlehandedly is seen as a powerful quality in a woman. This is completely unfair.  In our culture today, working women are told to fashion themselves in a way that blends in with the patriarchal way of working.

 

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The Huffington Post’s report says, women are told to, “Blend in, don't make a fuss, suppress your femininity, don't be too special or have different needs and God forbid, don't let anyone actually notice that you are, you know, a woman.” Essentially, to find equality with men, women are taught to work like them.

 

A recent research titled,  "Unleashing the Butterfly Effect for Women, Leadership and Work" successfully shows this being the reason behind women not excelling in their fields in spite of doing everything right. The research further goes on to say that people across different cultures are now beginning to see and appreciate the set of traits women bring to the table. And to get more women in leadership roles, along with other things, employers and companies will need to be more open and willing to embrace “new thinking and progressive strategies.”

 

ORIGINAL SOURCE: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-dallacamina/redefining-success-for-women_b_5031088.html

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