Unequally Equal!

During the lunch time in my recent training program, a participant told me she could identify with what I had pointed out in our pre-lunch session where we touched upon biases and judgments. Then She spoke about how her family(in-laws) expects her to do all that a 'woman is supposed to do' no matter her work and commitments, 'instead of sitting only on her laptop'! She said she tries, but it is difficult to get them to come around if she doesn't want to put up a fight.

Got me thinking, 'So what has changed over generations?' Sure many have moved over, and there are men who participate in the household chores, but it is still a small percentage and it is still seen as 'helping' the woman in her duties. If the topic comes up, most women in the room light up and nod, as if saying after all someone is talking about what they experience each day.

Generations of people are so conditioned to #Genderroles that they find it so difficult to see it any other way. Appalling to see the younger people whose children got married recently, still continuing this patriarchal mindset. Girls have worked hard in the past many years to reach where they reached, but their familial roles are taking time to evolve. They are still having to either swallow their pride and independence or fight for their rights( imagine having to use this word for their personal lives).

This is undoubtedly a big reason why women's professional growth hasn't been growing at the same pace after mid-level. There is a big gap, with fewer women in top positions in every field, yet. They are having to make a choice, take it slow or down-grade themselves to balance their professional lives with personal lives.

Why is it that today's man is still not standing up to his woman and giving her the support she deserves? We salute those that do, while this should be so normal! She still remains answerable, having to put herself, her needs and aspirations behind her family members' needs and demands. Out of ten women I talk to, six at least will agree to this. I notice a pall of gloom in their eyes, coming from the burden of expectations.

Time the young men stand up and change things. This will happen when the girls understand their own value and stay politely assertive.

Women are the most valuable contributors to society in every which way, and it is important that they be taken care of and revered. Only if men could experience what it takes to carry a child and nurture them ...everything else they can do too!!