Lately it has been brought to my attention that there are women in power who abuse it. After having numerous conversations with friends, colleagues, college peers, and professors, it dawned on me that this stigma has become a reality for successful women.
In an authoritative position, a woman tends to be seen as more domineering than men. With respect to this theory, there exists a stereotype of what could be affecting many women in the world. The typical woman manager or supervisor with aggressive goals comes across to their lower-level counterparts as "demanding", "dictating", "tyrannical", "pushy". The list goes on and on... When compared to men, us women have developed our own kind of prejudice in the work place. So the real question here is: "are women choosing to be these types of bosses or are we simply just being placed in that stereotype?".
It's applicable to dwell on some recent experiences I've had with bosses. For the few, I've had to say that most of them have come across this way. Especially with regards to women being these bosses. I have yet to experience a woman supervisor who hasn't been overly aggressive.
In terms of my future goals, I'd like to believe that I'd hope to never possess any of these qualities as a woman in power; yet it doesn't help me break down the barrier that exists for women in successful positions. I hope to one day become an inspirational leader rather than a dominant, power-hungry one. So, how do I and other women such as myself work to break down these barriers?
Perhaps the only way to keep others from seeing us as controlling is to come across as empathetic. Empathy is a strong word. Yet it implies more than the eye can see. With empathy comes trust, dedication, motivation, and inspiration. I believe that the key to breaking these barriers is not only to utilize our own empathy (naturistic of women) but also to embrace it. Contrary to belief (especially in the world of politics), the essence of compromise, empathy, and nurturing is the only way that women can truly unite to change the world.
My advice: be who you are. To be a true leader and inspiration to others, you must deeply embrace your ability to ensure peace and stability. This can only be achieved through the willingness to listen closely, speak with integrity, and open your eyes to new ideas.
In an authoritative position, a woman tends to be seen as more domineering than men. With respect to this theory, there exists a stereotype of what could be affecting many women in the world. The typical woman manager or supervisor with aggressive goals comes across to their lower-level counterparts as "demanding", "dictating", "tyrannical", "pushy". The list goes on and on... When compared to men, us women have developed our own kind of prejudice in the work place. So the real question here is: "are women choosing to be these types of bosses or are we simply just being placed in that stereotype?".
It's applicable to dwell on some recent experiences I've had with bosses. For the few, I've had to say that most of them have come across this way. Especially with regards to women being these bosses. I have yet to experience a woman supervisor who hasn't been overly aggressive.
In terms of my future goals, I'd like to believe that I'd hope to never possess any of these qualities as a woman in power; yet it doesn't help me break down the barrier that exists for women in successful positions. I hope to one day become an inspirational leader rather than a dominant, power-hungry one. So, how do I and other women such as myself work to break down these barriers?
Perhaps the only way to keep others from seeing us as controlling is to come across as empathetic. Empathy is a strong word. Yet it implies more than the eye can see. With empathy comes trust, dedication, motivation, and inspiration. I believe that the key to breaking these barriers is not only to utilize our own empathy (naturistic of women) but also to embrace it. Contrary to belief (especially in the world of politics), the essence of compromise, empathy, and nurturing is the only way that women can truly unite to change the world.
My advice: be who you are. To be a true leader and inspiration to others, you must deeply embrace your ability to ensure peace and stability. This can only be achieved through the willingness to listen closely, speak with integrity, and open your eyes to new ideas.
Very Well said!
ReplyDeleteDan