We Are Pretty Fricking Impressive!
There is still a very prevalent bias at the highest levels in all industries that women are somehow less committed, less able to perform in the C-suite, on corporate boards, as equity partners, as university deans, etc. For the uber majority of women, we ARE less committed and less willing to make our whole life about our paid work. As a woman, however, we are 100% committed to prioritizing “working hard for my family” which is why we seek a paid gig in the first place.
With more women than men earning degrees at all levels and making up almost 50% of the US workforce, women ARE 100% committed, financial providers for their family.
In fact, anywhere from 40% to 50% of the US households today claim “mom” as the main breadwinner. However, how a woman works generally looks different than the traditional “all I do/all I have to do is work and provide money for the family” mentality that consciously and unconsciously permeates the male mind.
When you also consider women spend several more hours each day contributing to the proper functioning of the home as compared to their working husband, it is clear the bias “men work outside the home while women take care of the home,” remains. ….even if she brings home half of the household income or even more! The bigger problem is not the inequity in domestic duty division, it is hiring managers consciously and unconsciously evaluate male workers as more “valuable” and “important” which establishes the criteria for promotions and higher pay.
I can’t wait for the day both males and females agree, to answer the question, “What do you do for work?” with the response, “I perform a paid job,” is akin to saying “I am JUST a worker” with the same level of hesitation, trepidation, and even shame with which women have said “I am just a stay home mom.” Just? “Just” a stay home provider?! Why do we so denigrate THE most important role in society – to nurture our marriage and raise healthy, well-adjusted future adults?!?
No one rises to the highest levels of success without a LOT of support.
Sometimes this looks like one spouse working outside the home full time while the other makes sure the home operation is running at top capacity. Sometimes it looks like a single mom moving her mother into her home so she can burn the midnight oil and get ahead. Sometimes it does not look “traditional,” but a married couple makes it work the way they need to for their family.
True success and happiness come when a married couple figures out the formula for their specific family.
Societal success and joy will come when we collectively embrace the Truth that people work to provide for their family. People don’t have families so they can prioritize something else over their most important contribution to society which is to nurture a healthy, properly functioning home unit in which children and marriage thrive.
Ultimately, let’s commit to stop asking women to be men and stop asking men to be women.
Recognize women still provide the majority of domestic care AND provide equally to the household finances. As such, we will probably leave work early to care for a sick child while our husband works uninterrupted. Or, we may even opt out of the hustle and bustle of the 9-5 world for a few years or even a decade only to re-enter fully prepared to commit to the company after our children have left the nest. Do not hold these choices against us and deem us less capable or worthy. And, god forbid, pay us the same amount as our male counterparts!
Please, let’s commit to respect women enough to allow us to be the superwomen we have become.
We perform well professionally AND domestically whether we work full time outside the home or full time inside the home. We may be a full-time entrepreneur one decade, a full time stay-home provider the next, and a corporate employee in another. Women don’t hesitate to flex as the family grows. Applaud us rather than hold it against us that we WILL don multiple hats because, alas we do it pretty darn well. When you get right down to it, we are pretty fricking impressive!
I’m excited to walk this journey with you as we unveil the practical and research-based information on how to achieve that which we all desire for ourselves and others – to be “happy”. We discover that happiness is attainable and, better yet, sustainable, as long as one is willing to do the work. In my book “The Happiness Formula”, I dive into each element in detail. Order your copy of “The Happiness Formula”, click here and subscribe to my YouTube Channel (click here) for continued insights and updates into HAPPINESS. Thank you for your support!
Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell
Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell is an Author, Speaker, Coach of Wealth & Happiness with a mission to bring research, wisdom, and authenticity to others via “The Happiness Formula.”