Does being in higher education, as a young woman give you that ‘power’ or ‘freedom’?
A boxy shouldered, helmet haired, red lipstick wearing, confident woman strides across the stage in giant heels. She is the epitome of the pantheon of jobs you one day figure you can have. This is when you finally begin to pay attention. The long line of dull guys in ill-fitting business suits finally makes way for somebody who becomes a voice for young ladies like you. You are furiously scribbling into your notebook, hanging onto every word, adding her to the list of your next big inspiration. She then opens her mouth to speak these words. “You’re going to be working in the future. Working for the guy you’re sitting next to that is”.
As published in Birthday Magazine
Birthday magazine
Breaking the Glass Ceiling; Possible or Improbable?
Imagine you’re sitting in a lecture hall. You’re sitting there prepped and primed with your embellished sparkly paperchase notebook and pen, with your kick-ass look painted on your face. You’re in that moment in time where you’re figuring out what exactly you want from life when you’re not mind surfing from an episode of Eastenders, to wondering if handing that last final piece in was the correct version. You just know you’re out there to achieve success whatever it maybe defined as.
You’re getting overwhelmed with pourings of anecdotes, motivational quotes and success stories from the individual speakers who just seem to have it all. You’re feeling pretty good. Inspired even. Then it comes crashing down. You’re told a few words which are devastatingly soul crushing.
That’s exactly what the girls at Harvard business school heard spoken by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer in 2011.
We at Birthday don’t know about you but we’d certainly would have been shocked by this statement- Mercedes from Glee ‘hell to the no’ style. It just seems appalling that a strong, successful woman can seemingly appear to betray the notion of independence itself by declaring we will still remain chained by the shackles of men. It’s disappointing that there’s still a ceiling on just how successful a woman can be at work regardless of how high a position she can achieve for herself. Whilst Sheryl justified her comment, we began to question just how much of it is true? Are we really any more powerful or free when we find ourself in a higher position? Are there still limits to just how much we can achieve not kidding ourselves that we’re wonder woman?
We asked some readers on their opinions of what they thought about Sheryl’s statement and if they’d feel powerful or free as a working laydee. Pooja, 19 said: “ I’d definitely feel more independent working as it means I’m financially supporting myself and having responsibilities. I won’t lie but I do think there is a limit to how high you can go in your career especially in a male dominated environment”.
Isatou, 20 said, “I don’t believe in limits. I don’t believe in there being restrictions on how far I can go in life. Men come and go but women are valued for more in their work. It’s just a matter of perspective. If you go out there thinking you can do it all, then hell yeah you can”.
All in all, it’s just a matter of perspective. No matter what, society’s always going to typecast sections of society. Whether it’s misfits, the gender divide or the fight of the youth versus the oldies. No matter what you’re defined as, success should be accessible to anyone, the only limits are the one we set for ourselves.
Words by Zohra Shahana Khan
