A balancing act of 50/50
Over the past few weeks, I have been writing and thinking about women’s professional development as well as the increasing work-life balance challenges we face in this modern life style; maybe because International Women’s Day was approaching my mind has been busy with these themes. Regardless, I have very valid reasons to consider these topics. When I think about my maternal grandmother and the fact that she did not have the opportunity to be educated, I see how privileged I am and see how the world changed.
I remember her on my high school graduation day, she was so happy seeing me receiving my diploma. She encouraged me to keep growing and to find my place in this life. Unfortunately, that same summer she passed away, just weeks before I started university! When I finally graduated I wrote my thesis acknowledging her memory. The day I received my degree I wore a pair of earrings that belonged to her. I was the first women in her family that graduated from university.
I don’t pretend to make the story of my family something special, but in this context I only can reflect about the challenges and lack of opportunities women in my grandmothers time faced. For example, the first female doctor, Matilde Montoya Lafragua, in my home land, Mexico, graduated in 1887 facing and overcoming many challenges and criticism, not only from men but from women. Many of these people firmly believed that women could never make it in the world on their own. They were people who thought that women only can be housewives nothing else and nothing more.
Those days are now long past, about 60% of the world’s university graduates are women, and women control the majority of consumer goods buying decisions in this economy. Like MD Matilde Montoya, Christine Lagarde has marked the future path for many professional women in this globalized wold as in July 2011, Christine became the eleventh Managing Director of the IMF, and the first woman to hold that position.
In the last two decades many articles and academic papers have been written along the line of gender equality. Some authors affirm that gender inequality is a challenge than only women leaning on each other can solve; others argue that the issue lies with men at the top who are blocking women from reaching their full potential in the work place. However, I think that equality will not be achieved pushing change only from one or other end.
I think that to achieve equilibrium in the world of work, companies and organizations need to move to consciously shift their cultures, assumptions, and messaging to become more balanced while creating opportunities for both men and women. For instance McKinsey & Company presented in the findings of a research titled “Women Matter” where they demonstrated that companies with significant number of women in leadership roles have higher return on investments than companies where the gender gap is profound. Other researches suggest that in work environments composed of equally men and women are more productive and innovative. In summary, companies with more gender-balanced leadership teams perform more efficiently than those with less balance.
I have been fortunate enough to see and have around me women and men that are committed to support each other. The men in my life have been an inspiration, staring from my father and uncle who did everything in their power to support my education, continuing with my husband who firmly believes in me, he has been a true partner and finalizing with my male friends and coworkers who gave me challenges and advice along the way. And, what can I say about the women in my life? About 2/3 of my close and extended family are amazing hard worker women. In addition, within my professional and social network I have amazing female mentors and examples to look up to.
The balancing act of gender equality is a topic that we can expect to continue evolving, but it is important to look back and celebrate what has been achieved as a way to honor the ones that did not even have a choice.