Question: What needs to change for women in business?
Rosabeth Moss Kanter: Women in business, as well as women in leadership positions in any sector, have been something that I've been concerned about my entire professional life. I have to say we're selfish because I got my PhD at a time when there were very few people like me. I was often the first of my kind sitting in a room with people of another kind. That's sometimes true, by the way, when I go as an American to the Middle East now where I'm very different in many respects. So I was very concerned about getting more women. I thought it was in my self-interest to have my women colleagues. First of all then the whole image of women would have been elevated. But also I wouldn't have had to sit there and answer silly questions about, “What's the women's point of view? I wanted more at the table. I also do care about opportunity, and I care about not breaking … not being confined. I care about …. I care about opportunity, and I care about not being trapped behind stereotypes. So now we've had the breakthroughs. There are certainly more women in leadership positions and lots and lots of women in the pipeline. What I'm concerned about now is that we haven't changed institutions enough to make it possible for women who want to devote themselves to their children during formative years to do that, or for men for that matter who say, I'd like to devote my time to my children to do that without feeling they sacrifice their careers. I think we still don't have enough women in leadership to make it totally normal, or we wouldn't ask today's silly woman question, which is, “Was Carly Fiorina fired because she was a woman? And the answer is, “No, she wasn't." But all the attention she got afterwards was because we had so few women CEOs we didn't take it for granted. But I think we have to get more women in leadership. In order to do that, we need to help those talented women in the pipeline feel that they can continue to advance without sacrificing important things to them in life. They don't have to sacrifice their career, nor do they have to sacrifice their family. I think that more men ought to take on some of those family responsibilities. That was important to me. I always felt there was a reason for two parents. And my husband did a great deal. And so we could lead more balanced lives. I think that, to me, is the frontier. It's what we do about work and family … work-life balance. And if we craft that, we will see all those talented women taking on responsibilities. And it will look completely normal to have women do important leadership tasks.
Recorded on: 6/13/07
Discuss
Michele B on January 18, 2008, 4:10 AM
As an ex-diesel mechanic for the military, I think men should just recognize that some women can do their jobs better. Men should be educated to rid business of these sexist attitudes. Its not that the women are not there to do the jobs, men just would rather hire other men as co-workers, especially if appearance of the female is involved. Thats wrong.
Michele B on January 18, 2008, 9:10 AM
As an ex-diesel mechanic for the military, I think men should just recognize that some women can do their jobs better. Men should be educated to rid business of these sexist attitudes. Its not that the women are not there to do the jobs, men just would rather hire other men as co-workers, especially if appearance of the female is involved. Thats wrong.
Alexandra Galaska on January 19, 2008, 2:46 PM
I think ego has much to do with it; both from males and older women who had it much tougher than women of my age (28). I have felt many times recently that I have been passed over for new opportunities within my organisation because I am a woman is more educated and experienced in this particular industry than the company owners and senior managers who are all males over the age of 45. I had hoped to achieve more before I started a family but that looks unlikely now and here I add another wasted degree to the pile.
Alexandra Galaska on January 19, 2008, 7:46 PM
I think ego has much to do with it; both from males and older women who had it much tougher than women of my age (28). I have felt many times recently that I have been passed over for new opportunities within my organisation because I am a woman is more educated and experienced in this particular industry than the company owners and senior managers who are all males over the age of 45. I had hoped to achieve more before I started a family but that looks unlikely now and here I add another wasted degree to the pile.
Ana Gabriela Ruiz Diaz on January 23, 2008, 5:20 PM
I think that its really about setting priorities in life, because if you have as a goal to become a great leader in a big company you are not going to start a family at a young age. That is one of the reasons why there are many women that wait until to get married after they have satisfied to some extent their professonial goals. Women should try to balance their personal goals with their professional goals, this way they will be fulfilling their desires and they will set a better example for society.
Ana Gabriela Ruiz Diaz on January 23, 2008, 10:20 PM
I think that its really about setting priorities in life, because if you have as a goal to become a great leader in a big company you are not going to start a family at a young age. That is one of the reasons why there are many women that wait until to get married after they have satisfied to some extent their professonial goals. Women should try to balance their personal goals with their professional goals, this way they will be fulfilling their desires and they will set a better example for society.
Rob Robertson on January 27, 2008, 8:46 AM
Equality. Equality… Think about what that means. I feel that as a man who grew up during the 80's and 90's, this was pummelled into everyones brains in the education system, and for the general good I might add. Dr. Moss kantner had to fight for equality to get to where she wanted professionally and I am glad there are more choices for women in this respect. However, equality does not mean the pendulum must swing the other way. In fact I think it has. Boys inschool these days are underachieving because the education system caters to girls by having more activities liek journal writing (a feminine type of activity) and less about doing things (more for active boys). males and females think and develop differently and we should celebrate these differences yet not have one sex in a more powerful position than the other. Popular culture and media sure has swung the other way. Most commercials show the smart and hard working mother coming home to a stupid lazy husband hwo can't fend for himself. I think this is wrong.
I have been in interviews for med schools where it looks liek there are roughly 1:1 male to female ratios but the graduating classes as of late are now up to 70% women. The job should be for the best person. I have heard some faculty and admission profs (women) admit there is a feminist slant to their amission process but it is obviously not on paper. they also admit that even with so many women graduating as MD's they are still not working after 5-10 years becasue they have stayed hoem to raise a family. This is government funded education here in canada and it is a waste of money.
I see alot of women citing inequality as the reason for their not succeeding when it may be due to something unrelated to their sex — Men also do not get promotions for various reasons, none of which have anything to do with sex. It may be true that sometimes there is sexism involved but I hear it a little too much.
You also can't have your cake and eat it too. Women cannot have a high pressure executive job and still be able to fulfill their desires to be a mother. The process of pregnancy, birth, and nursing are not easy road blocks to overcome — they are biological truths that cannot be changed. I know many women who are feminist who, once they have their baby, end up following their maternal instincts. Thank God for that. Mothers are the most influential in the life of a child. They have the extra sensitivity to nurture that a man does not have. Some families can "buck that trend", however, and they should have the right to do that. But that is the reason, I think, of why there aren't as many women in powerful positions as the stats say there should. Motherhood should be celebrated and fathers should do their share of work to bring up the children. Nobody says their full time job is as a mother these days — its just "I'm just a boring mom". I am happy for my mother, my wife and my female collegues, soem of whom are my bosses. when someone does a good job they should be told so and vice versa. Please leave out the political correctness as it hides the truth.
Peace
Rob Robertson on January 27, 2008, 1:46 PM
Equality. Equality… Think about what that means. I feel that as a man who grew up during the 80’s and 90’s, this was pummelled into everyones brains in the education system, and for the general good I might add. Dr. Moss kantner had to fight for equality to get to where she wanted professionally and I am glad there are more choices for women in this respect. However, equality does not mean the pendulum must swing the other way. In fact I think it has. Boys inschool these days are underachieving because the education system caters to girls by having more activities liek journal writing (a feminine type of activity) and less about doing things (more for active boys). males and females think and develop differently and we should celebrate these differences yet not have one sex in a more powerful position than the other. Popular culture and media sure has swung the other way. Most commercials show the smart and hard working mother coming home to a stupid lazy husband hwo can’t fend for himself. I think this is wrong.
I have been in interviews for med schools where it looks liek there are roughly 1:1 male to female ratios but the graduating classes as of late are now up to 70% women. The job should be for the best person. I have heard some faculty and admission profs (women) admit there is a feminist slant to their amission process but it is obviously not on paper. they also admit that even with so many women graduating as MD’s they are still not working after 5-10 years becasue they have stayed hoem to raise a family. This is government funded education here in canada and it is a waste of money.
I see alot of women citing inequality as the reason for their not succeeding when it may be due to something unrelated to their sex — Men also do not get promotions for various reasons, none of which have anything to do with sex. It may be true that sometimes there is sexism involved but I hear it a little too much.
You also can’t have your cake and eat it too. Women cannot have a high pressure executive job and still be able to fulfill their desires to be a mother. The process of pregnancy, birth, and nursing are not easy road blocks to overcome — they are biological truths that cannot be changed. I know many women who are feminist who, once they have their baby, end up following their maternal instincts. Thank God for that. Mothers are the most influential in the life of a child. They have the extra sensitivity to nurture that a man does not have. Some families can “buck that trend”, however, and they should have the right to do that. But that is the reason, I think, of why there aren’t as many women in powerful positions as the stats say there should. Motherhood should be celebrated and fathers should do their share of work to bring up the children. Nobody says their full time job is as a mother these days — its just “I’m just a boring mom”. I am happy for my mother, my wife and my female collegues, soem of whom are my bosses. when someone does a good job they should be told so and vice versa. Please leave out the political correctness as it hides the truth.
Peace
C Voytas on February 11, 2008, 2:00 AM
Motherhood has been devalued in our culture. Once upon a time, staying home with family was considered noble; now it is considered lowly. Independent professional or businesswomen may be the key to providing a new type of role model, since women in corporate contexts still play by rules that were shaped by tradition. For example, my dentist has arranged to keep her baby on-site so she can breastfeed during breaks. She is sending a clear signal that motherhood is important, and she has the power to make it a priority. When people see that professionals do not lose status by doing the right thing, it may catch on as "okay" to do. Then professional men might be willing to take the risk as well.
C Voytas on February 11, 2008, 7:00 AM
Motherhood has been devalued in our culture. Once upon a time, staying home with family was considered noble; now it is considered lowly. Independent professional or businesswomen may be the key to providing a new type of role model, since women in corporate contexts still play by rules that were shaped by tradition. For example, my dentist has arranged to keep her baby on-site so she can breastfeed during breaks. She is sending a clear signal that motherhood is important, and she has the power to make it a priority. When people see that professionals do not lose status by doing the right thing, it may catch on as “okay” to do. Then professional men might be willing to take the risk as well.
Jen Something on February 13, 2008, 5:56 PM
Do you teach how to doublespeak or use magic to trick people into unknown deals?
like these:
www.blackboxvoting.org
www.investigatethesec.com
www.thesanitycheck.com
Jen Something on February 13, 2008, 10:56 PM
Do you teach how to doublespeak or use magic to trick people into unknown deals?
like these:
www.blackboxvoting.org
www.investigatethesec.com
www.thesanitycheck.com
Rob Robertson on February 23, 2008, 6:05 AM
Toothygirl: Its is great that your dentist friend can do what she does but what happens when the little child starts walking and crawling around in the clinic and gettign into some pretty dangerous materials or devices? what happens when she is up to her elbows doing an extraction and the child needs immediate attention? Either sheignores her patient temporarily or she ignores her child, neither of which seem to be good options. Motherhood is a full time jobdemanding 100% attention, at least until the kids are at school full time. My mother was a full time mom but HAD to get a job (with the same hours as my school) so she would n't be at home going stir crazy. I think that was great because she was able to do what she wanted without sacrificing being with her children. Unfortunately not many people are as lucky as myself or your friend so far. Many people work ergular jobs that demand 100% of their attention while they are there. It doesn't seem to be able to work both ways. One may even criticize my mother for not staying home even while we were in school because she would otherwise not be so tired when she got home from work. When a mother and a father both work they are both tired at the end of the day and both are equally responsible for their home life of parenting and chores etc. Unfortunately our materialistic society promotes the acquiring of material such that we feel both people have to work. I thik this has driven up prices and made it hard for the working poor to survive. In turn, their children are not getting the direction they need and we are now in a poor moral state as our children grow up ina more violent world. I guess we could go on for hours but my bottom line is that men and women are complementary to each other and not equal at all. This does not mean one is inferior or superior than the other. As parents we have to keep in mind what is best for our children and work that out between ourselves. There is nothing better for society than a traditional loving family that produces moral and law abiding citizens through their children.
Rob Robertson on February 23, 2008, 11:05 AM
Toothygirl: Its is great that your dentist friend can do what she does but what happens when the little child starts walking and crawling around in the clinic and gettign into some pretty dangerous materials or devices? what happens when she is up to her elbows doing an extraction and the child needs immediate attention? Either sheignores her patient temporarily or she ignores her child, neither of which seem to be good options. Motherhood is a full time jobdemanding 100% attention, at least until the kids are at school full time. My mother was a full time mom but HAD to get a job (with the same hours as my school) so she would n’t be at home going stir crazy. I think that was great because she was able to do what she wanted without sacrificing being with her children. Unfortunately not many people are as lucky as myself or your friend so far. Many people work ergular jobs that demand 100% of their attention while they are there. It doesn’t seem to be able to work both ways. One may even criticize my mother for not staying home even while we were in school because she would otherwise not be so tired when she got home from work. When a mother and a father both work they are both tired at the end of the day and both are equally responsible for their home life of parenting and chores etc. Unfortunately our materialistic society promotes the acquiring of material such that we feel both people have to work. I thik this has driven up prices and made it hard for the working poor to survive. In turn, their children are not getting the direction they need and we are now in a poor moral state as our children grow up ina more violent world. I guess we could go on for hours but my bottom line is that men and women are complementary to each other and not equal at all. This does not mean one is inferior or superior than the other. As parents we have to keep in mind what is best for our children and work that out between ourselves. There is nothing better for society than a traditional loving family that produces moral and law abiding citizens through their children.
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