More women are downplaying their leadership abilities

‘A Political View’ By Sherry Holliman

Women, have you heard this before? If you go to work, who will make dinner, clean the house, or keep the kids?

Because Women are often considered natural servants, the lesser-than, from both genders, especially in male-dominated fields such as accounting, law enforcement, lawyers, and judges, physicians, surgeons, truck drivers, chemist, politicians, and pharmacists, women are currently openly gender-oppressed every day.

To prevent from dealing with the challenges of fitting in, some have chosen to downplay their skills and leadership abilities, limiting themselves to being considered only for a low-paying positions just to get hired with a company. They will settle for less challenging work, long hours, and sacrifice having it all for the sake of getting that opportunity to get that desired dream career.

Women are often forced at some point in their life to choose between their goals or an opportunity? This subject is double-sided in every angle, most ambitious, strong willed, and career seeking woman was reared by the same quality of man that she is now being discriminated against. When it is time for the woman to enter the workforce with their strongwilled attitude, now the concept is tougher to handle in practice.

Most men are still struggling with supporting women in the workplace. They will admit secretly to other men it’s intimidating and emasculating when a woman is beautiful and successful and has herself together, and knows her stuff.

Women will also admit to other women that they want a high-paying, high-powered position but fear the push back of their male counterpart. But to the decision maker male they will offer to start at an entry level and accept lower pay. It is time to get the good ole boy system aligned with the growth of the educated women entering the workforce on all professional levels.

When a man gets face-to-face with an impressive woman, he can feel inadequate. So, rather than appreciate her talents, education, and ambition he will expect her to be extra humbling, to not expect to be an equal, and silently stay in her workplace. Both genders believe this treatment is deeply ingrained.

Evolutionary behavior and traditional gender roles have prepared men to be competitive and consider themselves as the breadwinners. They perceive successful women as a threat to their career goals. Some women that are faced with this situation keep on with their bad selves, refusing to settle for a position where their accomplishments will be appreciated.

While others choose to tone down their ambition, reduce or drop goals altogether in order to attract or keep a dream position. Both genders should understand the these decisions could potentially lead to bigger problems in the future.

Do you believe women should downplay their abilities to get a job?

Probaby not. However, if you have a big vision of what you hope to accomplish in your career, there’s a strong chance you won’t be satisfied for long if you have made the choice to downplay your abilities to simply fit in. If women are expecting to gain equal rights, they must stop discounting their talents, ambitions, and think of themselves as equal partners. Also start educating the men who are still judging and thinking outdated biases.

When will the time come for everyone to see the need for women to be treated equal to men in the workplace?

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.