The common theme that was established throughout each video at the end of this article is that women lack the self-confidence and support to attain positions of power and uphold a progressive standing in the leadership pipeline. In the first video, Oprah discusses the idea of one’s personality “serving the energy of their soul.” In other words, this lends to the idea that individuals should strive to align their actions with who they feel that they truly are. This is especially true for women.
Women often feel that there are too many obstacles in the way of them achieving the success that they truly desire and taking actions that correlate to who they feel they are inside, so they find themselves backing away from the challenge entirely. This is not due to a lack of motivation or drive, but rather the lack of self-confidence and hope that a male-dominated society has ingrained in them. By following Oprah’s advice and striving to fulfill all dreams, despite the hardships that may present themselves, women can take the first step in defying the standard that is set in place against them.
Similar to this, the videos, “What if Women Ruled,” “Six Essential Lessons for Women in Leadership,” and “Women in Leadership: Lessons in Working Smarter, Not Harder,” address the idea that the perception of the female gender as weak from the time individuals are only little girls has a lasting impact on how they lead once they mature. These videos describe how women in leadership roles tend to be more open to negotiation and compromise, which is a great strength, but is often misconstrued as a weakness. This suggests that women leaders should feel insecure about this approach and doubtful of their capabilities.
Along with this, from a young age, the idea that “if girls work hard, they can be just as successful” as boys is instilled in the minds of the youth. The very meaning of this quote suggests that girls are at a natural disadvantage that cannot be fixed, claiming that instead they must work harder to prove themselves. This viewpoint places an immense amount of pressure on young women and establishes the idea that if they do not succeed, it is their fault because they did not work hard enough, but it does not address the fact that women can never possibly work hard enough in a system that is designed for their failure. One specific way that this “failure” occurs is through pitting women against one another. Specifically, the video, “Six Essential Lessons for Women in Leadership” discusses the idea that often companies and corporations feel that they have fulfilled their diversity requirement and done their due diligence once one or two women have reached respectable positions under their employment. Due to this, they do not see the need to continue to hire and promote any more women. This ultimately leads to women fighting against one another for limited positions, decreasing the confidence, while men have a much better opportunity to obtain positions at all levels.
Lastly, the video “Why Women are Paid Less,” delves into the gender pay gap and how it is predominantly motivated by a women’s decision whether to have children. Modern day society, although supportive of fathers in caretaking roles, views women as the primary caretaker in a family dynamic. Due to this, women are led to believe that they must make a decision between becoming a mother or advancing their career. Women who decide to pursue a balance between the two responsibilities find themselves being doubted by their peers, which ultimately results in self-doubt and becoming worn out.
Although I do not believe that there is one clear-cut solution to solving the issue of women lacking self-confidence in their career fields, I do believe that the answer begins with the youth. A shift needs to be made in the language that is used regarding girls in comparison to boys throughout their entire lives, not just once they reach the workforce. Young girls should not be taught that they must work harder to reach the same potential as their male peers or that their willingness to seek compromise is a weakness. In contrast to this, girls should be taught at a young age that gender discrimination does indeed exist, but they can combat it with confidence in who they are. They should be made aware that today’s society expects women to back away from challenges, but by pushing through the barriers in their way and taking on any obstacles that they might face they will make an impact.
Seemingly small gender discriminatory comments could stick with little girls for the entirety of their life, destroying their confidence and adding to the problem. Big changes start with small steps, and that is why it is so important to remain conscious of any misogynistic language that underlies many conversations and has become so normalized today in order to ensure a better future.
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