The Fun is in the Fight
Recently I attended two professional women’s meetings and heard what I consider “disturbing” comments from women. The first comment came from a woman encouraging a man to join the organization, “You would do very well in this women’s group because women would rather do business with a man.” The second comment came from a woman who expressed deep dissatisfaction with policies of “equal opportunity” and “quotas” because she, like so many, have the unconscious bias that to allow a historically disenfranchised person into an area of society that had been exclusively reserved for Caucasian males, was to allow someone with “less than” the required skills, talent, intellect to take a job or position or even money from a “more deserving” person.
As a former all-star team catcher, I am humbled that the law that allowed me into my beloved sport had only barely been overturned when I entered little league as a 9 year old. I attribute my desire to support women, encourage women, see women WIN, directly to my many years playing team sports…..and yet, bias against women remains high even amongst women in a professional association with a mission about us!
Full disclosure, the woman who worked hard to recruit a man into that women’s group approached me the other day to express her deep gratitude for how hard I work for our local community and stated, “There is no one who could do what you have done for us.” She is a beautiful human being who sincerely appreciates and supports me and all women…and, yet, she has some deeply held biases for which she is not even aware and that work against us.
Let’s make sure we don’t lose sight that the “fight” for “true” equality is still in its infancy. Further, let’s make sure we never assume we, ourselves, me myself, and I, do not carry biases of our own that work against us. In fact, if you do not make a conscious, intentional effort to work with women, encourage women, promote women even when you have to work harder to find those women, you are not advancing a “color-blind” and “gender-blind” society that judges people based on the content of their character rather than how YHVH created them as a physical representative of The Divine.
Sisterhood for some of us has a lot more to do with seeing other women “win” than it does with making more friends and having “fun.” For some of us, the “fun” is in the “fight” and we are fully aware the battle still rages on.
So, my sisters, I pray you hear my heart which is for our collective enrichment. My goal is not that you will “agree” with me so much as you will pause and think about your words, your actions, your attitudes…your unconscious bias.
Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell is an Author, Speaker, Teacher of Wealth & Happiness with a mission is to bring research, wisdom, and authenticity to others via “The Happiness Formula.” (Coming January 2019 #TheHappinessFormulaBook)