Did you know that women make up more than half of the U.S. population, but are only 24% of engineers and scientists, 2.6% of construction workers and 13.2% of police officers? Only 11% of U.S. tech start-ups have female founders or CEOs and, of the Fortune 500 CEOs, only 20% are women. That’s not ok! And it’s up to us to change it.
We looked into why this is happening and made some interesting discoveries, which basically boiled down to the fact that women are just as capable as men (or more so!) but society’s oppressive gender roles that are holding women back. Nevertheless, breaking into a male-dominated field can seem like an incredibly uphill battle. But it isn’t impossible. With the availability of many certification programs, trade schools and associate degrees, more and more women are braving this so-called man’s world to make it their own. Staying in it is the real challenge. Here’s how you can increase your chances for success:
Reversing gender stereotypes
Try to avoid constantly comparing yourself to your male counterparts. Instead, focus your valuable time and energy on doing what is necessary to make it to the position you strive for. We’ve all been told that some careers, like those in the programming industry, are mostly male because men are just more interested in those particular fields. But that’s just a stereotype. The only thing separating you from the job is learning to code and making some samples (there are lots of non-profits who could use a volunteer programmer!)
The next time someone tells you, “men are just better at some things and women are better at others,” don’t fall for it.
Stereotypes are more of an excuse than a reason you can’t do something. According to the American Psychological Association, there are no proven cognitive differences between men and women. Cultural factors greatly influence the perceived differences in performance, but males and females have no advantages or disadvantages based solely on gender (if anything, women have the advantage!)
There’s power in numbers: Join a network!
Networking shouldn’t just be about making friends or connecting with those folks with whom you have common interests. Networking is about making connections with other influential women who can help advance your career. Focus on professional organizations as their members are more diverse. With any ethnic or gender minority organization, a place to discuss common ground and shared ideas is enriching and encouraging. If you don’t find an organization that is as inclusive as you’d like, start one yourself.
Articulate is the word
Speak up for yourself! The best way to get over any fears you might have is to be prepared and to be confident. Often women are timid or are afraid they won’t be taken seriously. If you develop your reputation as a credible expert, you’ll be more apt to jump into the mix and share your opinions. You can also try to make a list of all the things you like and dislike about your current situation and work closely with your boss to make improvements.
There are a few ways you can work on being more articulate every day, including:
- Increasing your vocabulary. Work on learning new words and trying them out in your daily life. It will make you more confident and verbose, not to mention you’ll always know the answer when someone asks, “What’s the word I’m looking for?”
- Increasing your comprehension. Filling your free time with news radio, science articles and current events will help you be on top of any conversation you may stumble upon. Don’t be afraid to interact in political debates or intense discussions.
Find a guide and keep learning
It can be tricky to track down a female mentor, so get creative! LinkedIn is a great tool to reach out to people in a similar career field or simply reach out to those you find inspiring. Be open to seeking out and learning from those who have experience, not just an existing business connection. Surround yourself with those who uplift you.
“I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it.” — Marilyn Monroe
Incorporating learning into your everyday routine, like reading a book or attending an industry-specific conference, will help you further cultivate your passion. If you’re truly working towards something you find important, it drives you meet the expectations and goals that you’ve set for yourself and pushes you to overcome any obstacles.
Your new mantra: Anything a man can do, I can do better!
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I support feminism, so people called me a feminist. For me, it is just right to support what women want, even though I am a man, I know that women only want equality in this world, and it doesn’t bother me anyway.
Because of we, believe that women are not for working field, and they are just for household works. Maybe we should stop thinking about it, and face the fact that women can also work on the field, and can compete with men too.
I am amazed by women workers in our company. I can say that they are badass. I was wrong when I underestimate women when it comes to their potentials at work. Sometimes, they are way better than us, men. Salute to all hard working women out there!
I hate it when men underestimate our capabilities. For example, in Engineering, if you’re a girl, and you studied engineering, male professors, and students will underestimate you. After you graduated, and you’re ready to find a job, they will underestimate you for being a woman, and they will tell you that the job is not suitable for people like you.
Gender-based jobs are awful.
We are no longer in the era of Adam and Eve, so let’s stop thinking that men are always better than women. Men always think that women are weak, and they can’t do anything aside from household chores. In this generation, women can do more than household chores, and they can compete with men in the same business as them.
Women can do better always. Being a woman is not an acceptable reason to change your goals because your goals are more likely like goals of men. It’s already 2017, and we are in the generation where people accepts equality.
A cliche as it might sound, but change is the only permanent thing in the world! Gone are the days when women are seen as “weaker sex.” Women just need to believe! With proper network and guidance, I’m certain we can do it as much (or even better) than men!
I believe it’s just a matter of working hard and giving full dedication. It’s all about keeping a clear goal in mind and working hard towards it! In this day and age, I think there’s no such thing as a woman (or a man’s world), anybody can achieve and be the best in whatever chosen field. Everything is possible and achievable. Just believe and work!
The idea that men are more interested in certain fields doesn't explain away the lack of women CEOs. Even in fields that are typically associated with female interest, such as fashion, male CEOs are more common. These tips are a great way for women to make it in their career of choice!
In this day and age, it possible to achieve anything we desire.With hard work, dedication and faith. Woman are naturally strong mentally and I believe are more intelligent. Although we tend to be a little more emotional than man, we stand our ground and fight for what we believe in. One aspect I want to take from this article is the power of networking. Who we know affects our career tremendously. Connecting with other influential and powerful women you admire can help you increase your knowledge of the organization as well getting a mentor. I enjoyed this article. We as woman can change people's perception !