Women in Power
Notre Dame’s Meghan McDermott gave a powerful emotional speech to the press a few days ago that went viral. Her frustration is apparent as it should be. Only women can truly understand how she feels.
People ask me if I think that women are taught differently than men from the get-go. Certainly. Young girls are told at an early age if they aren’t good at something to try something else whereas boys are told just keep trying. It starts that young. No wonder women are promoted once they do well and men are promoted if there is potential. Big difference and big frustration for women.
How do we create equality from day one. More women in the C-suite, more women building businesses, more women coaches, more women in every single business at the top, period. That is exactly what McDermott is saying. If the next generation of young girls can’t look to more role models than how can they believe that they too can be in those women’s shoes later on in life.
We all stand on others shoulders to get to where we are today. A lot has changed but more needs to happen. One thing is men have to take their full paternity leave which changes the dynamic from day one on how they raise their children. It creates a different type of partnership that their children will see.
It is time on so many levels to literally shatter the ceiling. Hats off to McDermott for calling it as it is. I watched the video more than a few times. She is emotional, angry and spot on. I couldn’t agree more with what she is said. Enough is enough.
Comments (Archived):
I haven’t heard this argument yet on Paternity Leave: “One thing is men have to take their full paternity leave which changes the dynamic from day one on how they raise their children. It creates a different type of partnership that their children will see.” If you haven’t already, would be powerful for you to write on that briefly some time.