Women have made great strides in their fight for equality. And while advancements have certainly been made, women are still running up a steep hill to fight for and show their worth. There are still fewer women than men in powerful, higher-level positions.
According to some scholars, one of the reasons the number of women in top-level positions is so low is that women and men simply have different character traits. Some of our innate biological predispositions have guided us professionally. Men are often more likely to be aggressive, for instance. This is a natural instinct that is more conducive to rising to the top. This may have some influence on how many women are at the top, but it is not the only thing setting them back.
Working toward a high-level position in any company is difficult for anyone. But women often face a lot of scrutiny when it comes to their level of intelligence, regardless of the fact that a women can hold the same position as a man, be more educated, be just as or more efficient than that man, and maybe even have more experience doing the exact same job. Yet, some misinformed people still view women as less competent. Not all companies are like this, but a vast number of them unfortunately reflect this mindset.
Women may not be leaving their workplaces at higher rates than men, but women have been taking a different route in the business world. In a world where large corporations are running things, often by men, small business owners have been popping up everywhere – and successful women are leading many of them (but not without more struggle).
While there may be more female business owners now than ever before, it has not come easily. Hard work is of course expected when running any business, but women have even more hurdles to leap over trying to run their own company.
Staying confident, determined and strong is key. There are a lot of obstacles along the way that can try a woman’s confidence in what they’re fighting for. It is often more difficult to get funding for a startup company if you’re female, and that can be difficult to deal with. After working through that and getting the company going, sometimes the fear of failure can be a setback. Where this may be a personal mindset, it can prove to be difficult to push through all of the negativity along the way. Sometimes, women can feel like they may not belong in the business world, but don’t give up. Work even harder. Prove them all wrong.
Finding a balance between work and family is difficult for anyone. Men and women struggle with this in any job and any setting. Finding the right mix of both can be hard. If women have children it can be even more difficult, but that’s where a woman’s strength and perseverance really shine through. The dual role of being a mother and a business professional can be exhausting at times, but let it be a guide. Become a female powerhouse.
It’s unfortunate that there are still a lot of these mindsets out there, where women are viewed as lesser than men. Hard work pays off though. Women are finding solutions, making changes, and fighting harder than ever to excel in the business world. Armed with confidence, they have been putting themselves out there, taking risks and utilizing their expertise to become successful. Despite continued ridicule, women are rising to positions of power, leading their own companies, and becoming more prosperous than ever before.
Image courtesy of Pexels