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How Far Do Women Have to Lean In?

How much of women’s problems are problems because women are not leaning in, and how much of the responsibility is up to the employer to create the environment that women need or men need to succeed at work?
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We don’t live in a black and white world. And yet, in the world of work, there is nonetheless the assumption that if something is good or bad, that it’s up to the employee to figure that out.


This is a key feature in Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In and it is a significant question not only in American culture but globally as women enter the workforce in increasing numbers and since technology has blurred the lines between working hours and personal time.

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As the question goes, “how much of women’s problems are women’s problems because they’re not leaning in — not taking responsibility for their careers?” On the other hand, “how much of the responsibility is up to the employer to create the environment that women need or men need to succeed at work?”

That is the way that Ellen Galinsky, President and Co-Founder of the Families and Work Institute, poses the key question of Sandberg’s book in the video below. 

Watch here:

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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