Problems of a Working Women :
“She never seems shattered; to me, she was a breathtaking mosaic of the battles she’s won” ~Matt Baker
It makes me proud when I see women taking strides in the corporate world. And why not, I’ve survived corporate life for 9 long years (working in 3 esteemed organizations), tasting a lot of success in each. From my own story of these long 9 years, I never felt myself less than my male counterparts, nor did my management made me feel so anytime.
I was bestowed with ample challenges, high-level tasks, Numerous “first-time initiatives”. I was pulled and had tears too when something went awry (way too awry). At the same time, I was bestowed with numerous accolades too.
Being a woman never compromised my career trajectory. I was offered Flexi timings and Work from home options, all arrangements exclusively made to retain me after baby birth. I was promoted just after I gave birth to my baby. What more can one expect!
Is the life of women really biased in the Corporate world?
So, why is it that working women often complain about biasness at a workplace? Why do women usually feel that they are left behind in the corporate race, as compared to men?
Though my journey sailed really well, I still remember my Interview while switching to the third organization. I was married for 2 years and I was asked the question of Family Planning in the end. The HR person wanted to know if I would plan as soon as I joined the new organization and would opt for Maternity leaves. Quite taken aback by the question, I was selected though, basis my experience and previous performances on a Senior Managerial role. But this question got framed in my mind forever. Life of a working woman is not easy. But mind it, women are Multi-taskers!
Lara Dutta, recently shared in an interview that “When it comes to Pay Parity between men and women in the industry, there are many females who can initiate the conversations and make a difference. But they don’t! “
This is the need of an hour, that we take up the cause and follow it regardless of where the stick falls, on our side or the other, Dutta says.
Tanya, a good friend, and Manager in FMCG, has a different story to narrate. She joined an organization as a Single Mother to her 5-year-old daughter. Within 4 months, she started observing a lot of discrimination at her workplace. She was being judged at every step and her flair in her vertical was taken less seriously. The impact was no-so-cooperative colleagues, lots of Ego clashes and missed chances of promotion.
How to overcome the challenges of Corporate women?
That’s just one example on both sides. There are ample stories, some spread positivity while some inspire “you” to do more to spread awareness! This is what my corporate life in the metro has taught me, look for the ray of hope in all circumstances. That’s what I want my pen to do, to raise awareness and ask women to speak up and bring out the issues they face. Simultaneously, I want women to write about the positivity at their workplace too!
The next few posts are about Working Women in Corporate Life, existing discriminations and how to move ahead burying those clashes.
What matters is prove yourself, take the challenges, make them highly successful, the world will have to bow down before you, Oh woman!
This is what is needed for Corporate life, brush the dust off and show the real side of yours!
This post is a part of #A2Zchallenge by Blogchatter #BlogchatterA2Z
Much Love,
Jhilmil
View Comments (22)
I have worked with biggest media houses of India and believe me everywhere that I went for interview the question about maternity leave remained the same. After a point I became used to it but yes even I was taken aback initially.
I could so much relate to this and loved your way of writing Jhilmil.
Pretty common in corporate offices. In fact in every place!
I think challenges faced by women are real. Some come from family and some may come from work place. I know one lady who went for a training abroad. Her husband, after a few days, took one eight hour flight to deposit her kid to his mother, and then came back by return flight. He did not think what kind of problem this woman is going to face in a foreign land, all by herself with a small kid.
Omg! That was really strange action, a big challenge which came from the family.
This is the thing why women are considered for a second place, not always but most of the time because she has the power to give birth to another life because she needs maternity leave to take care of her newborn because she takes care of her family. It should understand that this is the biological phenomenon not mental.
It is sad when a woman has to work doubly hard to prove herself, just because she is a woman. That is the biggest challenge
Its always the same everywhere. A Woman is expected to work double to prove her capabilities when competing with her male counterparts.
Very beautifully articulated Jhilmil. More power to you.
its true, woman do get pushed over in the corporate world, looking forward to reading more about it.
Great post Jhilmil! Apart from the lowered expectations of performance from women, we also face additional hazards of harassment, “mansplaining” and being stereotyped! But like you said, as writers, it’s our responsibility to change the narrative, so the positive effects can trickle down.