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Women in the workplace: Overcoming the challenges

I read Lili Radloff's latest newsletter with some interest, and then reflected on the some of the findings of the Female Nation Survey 2013 survey, more especially as they relate to the areas of work.

As an academic who has presented numerous Women in Management programmes and is also the Careers Expert on Women24 (and, I must add, also a male), I am not surprised by the finding that “62% of women felt that they are limited in their careers” as this is certainly something which is expressed by the participants on the various programmes which I present, and also in some of the questions that are posed on the Careers website.

But, what are the causes of this 62% frustration?

They are many and varied and one is sometimes surprised at the responses when posing this type of question.

The inability or unwillingness of managers, both male and female, to provide an environment in which the women can give full expression to their skills and abilities is something which astounds me.

Women, who have the knowledge and the competencies, are frequently held back by attitudes and perceptions which one cannot believe still exist in this day and age – and in this country which professes an adherence to the rights of women as espoused in the Constitution and other legislation.

One could go on and on and describe the myriad of problems faced by women today. But this would then just be a whiney comment (and also coming from a man!), so what then is the solution?

It would be a wonderful world if one could wave a magic wand and correct these problems, but since we don’t have a Harry (or Harriett) Potter in our midst, it must then be left to those individuals (both women and men) who are prepared to put their heads above the parapets and speak out about these matters and to do, not only what is right and good and proper, but also to take positive, proactive and decisive action to advance the position of women in the workplace and address those matters that have led to the “62% problem”.

And here, “sisters (and supportive brothers) must do it for themselves!”.

Happy Women’s Month – and all power to you all.

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