Today's women; We still have a long way to go
It's the International Women's day. As a society and as women, we've come a long way. We've got our place in society as business women, as professionals, as executives and CEO's of those large corporation.
I have been reading for the past two years, on and off, the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, this Executive for Facebook. One of the passage that stroke me the most is when she describes how though it can be for a woman, to be who she truly wants to be in this society. Despite all the progress that we've made. Progress in education, in legal rights, in politics. More often than not, I think we are our biggest critics. When I say we, I am talking about women. Weather it's your family, friends or colleagues, I feel there is always someone to judge your decisions.
Personally, thus far in my life, I've chosen to take the "career path". I've worked hard to get myself through University, through a male dominated environment in the transportation industry, and I am proud of the success that I've had thus far in my life and I've had most of time, a lot of fun doing it. However, sometimes I still feel enormous pressure from society to fit in the mold. I often get the questions, when are you going to have children? You are getting older. What are you waiting for?
It is hard to get asked those questions because I think society is not fully ready, to embrace women who want to have a career and a family at the same time. I look at people around me, who have children, and are juggling the two, or decided to put their family first and take a step back in their career. It doesn't make them less brilliant or intelligent. It just shows that we still have a long way to go, to support women as a society, in making the choice for themselves in terms of career and family life combined.
Trust me, it is not an easy decision and I think that probably a lot of woman are feeling the same way I am, in trying to make the right decisions.
I know those woman really love their jobs and careers and they also really love their family as well. I think we need to do a better job, as a society to support them. I believe the changes need to come from the government, the employers and the partners in those women's life to find a way to create those opportunities. The opportunities to feel like you have the same chance as a man to achieve the goals your set for yourself both professionally and personally.
My hat's off to all the women in my life, that are making the choices for themselves and their families.
I have been reading for the past two years, on and off, the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, this Executive for Facebook. One of the passage that stroke me the most is when she describes how though it can be for a woman, to be who she truly wants to be in this society. Despite all the progress that we've made. Progress in education, in legal rights, in politics. More often than not, I think we are our biggest critics. When I say we, I am talking about women. Weather it's your family, friends or colleagues, I feel there is always someone to judge your decisions.
Personally, thus far in my life, I've chosen to take the "career path". I've worked hard to get myself through University, through a male dominated environment in the transportation industry, and I am proud of the success that I've had thus far in my life and I've had most of time, a lot of fun doing it. However, sometimes I still feel enormous pressure from society to fit in the mold. I often get the questions, when are you going to have children? You are getting older. What are you waiting for?
It is hard to get asked those questions because I think society is not fully ready, to embrace women who want to have a career and a family at the same time. I look at people around me, who have children, and are juggling the two, or decided to put their family first and take a step back in their career. It doesn't make them less brilliant or intelligent. It just shows that we still have a long way to go, to support women as a society, in making the choice for themselves in terms of career and family life combined.
Trust me, it is not an easy decision and I think that probably a lot of woman are feeling the same way I am, in trying to make the right decisions.
I know those woman really love their jobs and careers and they also really love their family as well. I think we need to do a better job, as a society to support them. I believe the changes need to come from the government, the employers and the partners in those women's life to find a way to create those opportunities. The opportunities to feel like you have the same chance as a man to achieve the goals your set for yourself both professionally and personally.
My hat's off to all the women in my life, that are making the choices for themselves and their families.
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