I was recently invited to give a talk on Women and Work Roles for a predominantly male company.

I started mentally, like in a movie, to review my years of experience in the world of work in organizations and companies; landing my current activity as a director in my business; And by internally evaluating my studies and research on gender and the constant updating of trends, I came to the conclusion that we are on the right track! Perhaps not everything has changed to generate greater equality in access to work and to deconstruct the work roles of internally, but I am aware that there are companies that transcend the check list to indicate that it complies with gender equality and to carry out deeper and more strategic actions.

Women workers, service, production, executive or managerial women have always given a plus in our work to access management or technical positions, since they evaluate us, in addition to the knowledge and experience acquired (when we manage to access education) , our condition of woman for being real or potential mothers, for physically or psychologically representing such appearance.

In this journey we have come, in most cases, deconstructing our own feminine identity, even with the cultural limitations that it may have, to build it on the basis of masculinity, that is, seeking the acceptance of peers by looking like them and delegitimizing our being a woman.

In this construction and deconstruction of identities we are losing our essence that is inherent to our being, that which makes us and says "go on", "you can." The strategies to achieve what we want are those that determine the emotional, physical and mental cost according to where our energies and focus allow it.

Being a leader in your area of work, your business, your company necessarily and indisputably passes by how we see ourselves. If it is not possible to get out of how we conceive traditional work roles, the path will be steeper and will have a high cost for you and the family. On the other hand, if you manage to see yourself as what you really are, a brilliant woman, owner of your decisions, open to learning, empathetic, with self-confidence being beautiful, beautiful, wearing your dresses and shoes of preference, it will take you, in addition to becoming a leader of your company, a reference for other women who need to get out of their "comfort zone".

It will not be easy. In the process you will find barriers of all kinds, family, work, friends who will tell you that it is only for men, do not get involved, but if your being really tells you that this is your path and your personal evaluation gives you more advantages and satisfactions, then it is up to your own decision to take what suits you best.

In the work areas, being a boss, responsible or counting on the position you have, you will be subject to "comments", "fetishes", who is dominant, who does not know how to say things, who came in a bad mood, among others. Simply because they have the traditional labor role of women reflected in their DNA and before that we must be prepared and alert so that our feelings and work focus do not drain, because in the end those who detract seek to eternalize the roles that keep us submissive.

If you are one of those who have touched you or are experiencing some similarity, I tell you: you are not alone. With the adequate internal and spiritual guidance, supported by scientific and modern information, let us continue to dig our way so that the equality of women and men is a reality.

 

 

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