Working women are well aware of how different and unique their workplace issues are from those of their male peers. Despite the fact that we have been working hard to overthrow years of patriarchy, there are still a few crucial concerns that must be resolved, which we will be talking about in this blog.
Misconceptions About Working Women
The following are some typical myths about working women that you may have heard:
1) Women Workers Lack Confidence
Working ladies are often passed over for leadership or management positions in businesses on the basis that men will be better equipped to manage a team since they are perceived as being more confident.
Women and men each have unique personality traits. Not all men are confident, just as not all women are timid. This generalisation is therefore ridiculous and unfair.
2) Women Are Very Emotional Beings
This misunderstanding is largely the result of unconscious bias. Those of us who have worked in offices have either witnessed or heard of occasions in which a male employee lost his temper and yelled at the manager. The majority of us simply ignore and brush such incidents under the rug. But for a woman to cry or exhibit emotion at work for whatever reason is regarded as weak behaviour.
We need to stop viewing emotional expression as a sign of weakness. Both situations are emotional outbursts that undoubtedly have a purpose, a purpose that must be addressed.
3) Women Who Are in Positions of Power Undercut Their Female Coworkers
Can there be only one queen bee?
It's a prevalent misperception that women in leadership positions prevent other women in their organisation from advancing because they are competitive and vengeful. There are many men out there who aren't 'helping' women or men advance, therefore being unhelpful isn't a gender issue.
It is absurd to claim that powerful women don't want to face opposition. Women are considerably more united than the general public likes to believe.
4) She Must Have Done Something To Get That Role
Have you heard this one before? Men have the benefit of escaping this really unfair misconception. There is usually a lot of curiosity regarding a woman's path to success when she has a decent position at work. Some people note her talent, while others comment on her outgoing personality and how she must have done something to get the role. The girl often has to put her papers down as a result of these unjustly harsh comments.Why Female Leaders Are Such a Rare Sight
Studies show that only 4.7 per cent of CEOs in India are female. Although many women aspire to be leaders, lingering gender stereotypes, such as the notion that women take more time off for family duties than men do and could therefore be unsuitable as candidates for a demanding position, may deter them from making an application for a leadership post.
The Problems Faced by Working Women
Women have unique and distinct problems when it comes to the workplace. The following are some typical issues that numerous women still encounter today:
1) Balancing Domestic and Professional Duties
Women have come a long way, but there are still some prejudices that are all still prevalent and need to be debunked. An issue that frequently arises in many households is partner imbalance. Women are frequently expected to handle all household chores. This includes everything from cooking to cleaning and looking after the kids. Of course, not every home experiences this, but it is a common problem in many houses.
Because not all workplaces offer maternity leave, flexible timings, and enough paid leave, it can be difficult for women to manage work and family life. Women are therefore more likely than men to decide to abandon their jobs.
2) Gender Bias
Despite the progress achieved by women in promoting gender equity in the workplace, inequalities still exist. Women continue to be underrepresented in business's top management positions, earn less money, and receive fewer promotions.
Gender bias is also very evident during the hiring process. Even when mothers and women of childbearing age have resumes that are identical to those of men or women without children, hiring managers are less likely to call them back.
3) Pay gap
Women have been pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees for a long time in order to advance in the workforce. But despite having the same qualifications as males, they still make less money.
There is a common misconception that the gender pay gap is just a hoax. However, the issue of gender pay in the workplace is quite real. The facts speak for themselves. Women in India make 19 per cent less money than men, according to the March 2019 Monster Salary Index (MSI). Men earn 26 per cent more than women in the IT services sector, while in the manufacturing sector, the gender pay difference is 24 per cent.
But the full picture is far bigger than this. In the unorganised sector, especially in fields like agriculture, women usually earn significantly less than men.
4) Sexual Harassment
As more women have found the courage to come forward and talk about their horrific experiences, people are now finally aware of the discrimination and sexual harassment that occurs in workplaces. The #MeToo movement has highlighted how common sexual violence, abuse, and harassment are in the office.
Even though there are several safeguards in place to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening, many women choose not to report them out of concern that they will be treated differently at work, won't be taken seriously, or would lose their jobs.
How Can Women Be Empowered at Work?
The following actions need to be made in order to advance and eliminate the obvious differences between men and women in the workplace:
1) Look for Ways To Amplify the Voice of Women
Start by giving women a seat at the table and a voice. Support a woman who has a great idea and make sure she gets credit for it rather than letting someone else do it.
If you hold a leadership position, give female employees the chance to speak in front of an audience, both internally and outside. Make sure your company provides networking chances for everyone to interact with senior management.
2) Make a Point of Diversifying the Leadership Positions
If you want equality in the workplace, you have to be able to diversify roles and provide the same opportunities to women that men have. If only men are in positions of leadership, how can female voices be heard or taken into account?
It is important to encourage women to seize chances at all rungs of the business ladder. Your talent pipeline should be open to all workers equally. By giving women the same opportunities as men, you demonstrate your value to them and your commitment to developing their abilities.
3) Promoting a Fair System for Parental Leave
Numerous women decide not to go back to work after giving birth because of the demanding nature of their employment and the lack of flexibility in their timings.
In India, the mother has only 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, which is hardly enough time for her to get back on her feet. She would have to depend on someone else to watch her infant while she is at work, which is not always possible.
The number of working mothers will dramatically rise if there is a flexible parental leave policy and a fair understanding. This will serve as a metaphor for the future success of empowered women in the workforce.
Women are critical links in our society. They desire to hold positions of authority and run businesses in the same manner as men, yet frequently, they are unable to do so. We have come a long way in history but we're yet to reach the finish line. There is still so much work to be done and both men and women in the workforce will need to shift their perceptions and take the necessary actions to make progress.
FAQ
What Is Feminism?
The idea that all genders should have the same opportunities and rights is known as feminism. Many individuals worry that as feminism advances, men will eventually lose out in terms of status, authority, control as well as financial gain. They assume that feminists seek to enslave men and rule the world, which is absolutely false.
In its purest form, feminism advocates for the equal rights of women as well as men. It aims to eradicate all forms of prejudice based on gender, especially those which women have experienced for many generations. Therefore, a so-called feminist movement is not really feminist if it belittles and hates males.
What Is the #MeToo Movement?
#MeToo is a social movement against sexual violence and rape culture where participants publish their own tales of these crimes online or in other public places.