Balancing Acts
I was browsing around The Times website (as you do when you are avoiding reading Tort cases) and was shocked and intrigued by a portion of their website entitled "Alpha Mummy" I had to click, so I did and found a cross between a blog and a "human interest" piece of journalism about how hard it is to have a career while being a good mum. (In other news, sky likely to still be blue). One post that did really get me thinking was this one particularly the last few paragraphs:
Big, top-paying jobs take mega commitment. Better the chance to explain than being rejected because of the unexpressed assumption that "she's going to need special treatment". If no one is allowed to ask, then assumption can throw a pink fog around what women really want.
Many women do want to work flexibly and ache to spend time pureeing carrot; but some don't and are paying the price for those who do. Given the demographics, the issues around careers, women and motherhood are only going to intensify. The only way to make it work for all women, whatever their choices, is not to assume but to ask. The truth will set us all free.
I know from personal experience that this area is a total minefield and getting the balance right is extraordinarily difficult and tend to lean towards the author's view, until I remember that horrible interview not long after I moved to London where I was stuck explaining my lifestyle choice and not being believed. How many employers would exploit a call for honesty as an excuse to go back to the Good Ole Boy's network? While being a working woman or even a working mom is better today than 20 years ago, it's still far from being an equal playing field. Where to go from here though? I haven't a clue, but surely a bit of good faith and honesty would help. Because if there is one thing that drives me nuts, it's people making assumptions about what I want or think.
Thoughts from the peanut gallery?
Big, top-paying jobs take mega commitment. Better the chance to explain than being rejected because of the unexpressed assumption that "she's going to need special treatment". If no one is allowed to ask, then assumption can throw a pink fog around what women really want.
Many women do want to work flexibly and ache to spend time pureeing carrot; but some don't and are paying the price for those who do. Given the demographics, the issues around careers, women and motherhood are only going to intensify. The only way to make it work for all women, whatever their choices, is not to assume but to ask. The truth will set us all free.
I know from personal experience that this area is a total minefield and getting the balance right is extraordinarily difficult and tend to lean towards the author's view, until I remember that horrible interview not long after I moved to London where I was stuck explaining my lifestyle choice and not being believed. How many employers would exploit a call for honesty as an excuse to go back to the Good Ole Boy's network? While being a working woman or even a working mom is better today than 20 years ago, it's still far from being an equal playing field. Where to go from here though? I haven't a clue, but surely a bit of good faith and honesty would help. Because if there is one thing that drives me nuts, it's people making assumptions about what I want or think.
Thoughts from the peanut gallery?