Women STILL Can't Win

I am writing this as Hillary is losing ground and momentum in the presidential campaign.  While I am not saying she was my candidate, I am feeling as if women just can't win regardless of the woman.  I have heard many people say, "I would vote for a woman, but just not Hillary." 

In a recent New York Times, an article pointed out the challenges women continue to face in leadership.  Research has demonstrated that when women highlight their accomplishments, people are turned off.  And women seem even more offended by self-promoting females than men are.

So much of this has to do with perceptions that have not changed much over the decades.  Another example is that a woman can be perceived as competent or as likable, but not both.  According to Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a Harvard Business School professor who is recognized as an expert on women in leadership, women face much more scrutiny on many more dimensions than men such as how they look, what they wear, and even their hairstyles. 

Some studies have found that it is a disadvantage for women to be physically attractive when applying for management positions.  Beautiful applicants received lower ratings!

It appears that it is hard to be everything for everyone and women still cannot win.  Regardless of how competent we are, the challenges are immense.  All women should respect the relentless commitment made by Hillary to forge new paths for us.  If Hillary wins, the win is much bigger than what we might even imagine.  Time will tell. 

Comments

[Meghan]

While I whole heartedly agree that women are indeed influential and powerfull beings, I have been learing through the heart of God just how influential we are when we allow ourselves to fulfill the roles He created us and wired us to fulfill.
I recently came accross a poignant description of how wonderful God created women to be:

"If man is the head, woman is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the visible creation.
The man was dust refined, but the woman was double-refined, one removed further from the
earth...The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head
to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him,
under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved and cherished."

I highly recommend Michelle McKinney Hammond's book "The Power of Being a Woman" to any and all women looking for their true identity.