Nayab Iqbal
Women have always played an important role in society. They are the ones who give birth to new life and care for their families. In recent years, women have made great strides in the workforce and leadership positions. However, there is still a long way to go before women are truly equal to men in the workplace.
One of the biggest obstacles that women face is the fear of criticism and harassment. This is especially true for women who are in leadership positions. Many women have been subjected to unfair criticism and even sexual harassment simply because they are in a position of power. This is one of the main reasons why so many women are reluctant to take on leadership roles. They are often judged more harshly than men and have to deal with the added pressure of being in the public eye. This can make it difficult for women to feel confident in their abilities and take on new challenges.
Constant Criticism
One of the most challenging things about being a woman in a leadership position is dealing with constant criticism. It seems that no matter what you do, someone is always there to criticise you. This can be highly frustrating and can even lead to burnout. Many women have been forced to resign from their positions due to criticism.
Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is one of the most famous examples of a woman subjected to constant criticism. During her time in office, Clinton was constantly under attack by her opponents. They criticised her for everything from her appearance to her policies. This made Clinton one of the most polarising figures in American politics.
Another example of a woman who has faced criticism is German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel has been criticised by both her opponents and her supporters. While some of her opponents accused her of being too soft on refugees, her supporters accused her of being too hard on them. Yet, regardless of the criticism, Merkel remains one of the most popular leaders in German history.
In South Asia, women who enter politics often face much backlash from their opponents and sometimes the masses. One of the most famous examples is Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Apart from being constantly targeted based on nepotism, Bhutto was also the victim of character assassination.
Even Fatimah Jinnah, one of the most influential women in Pakistani history, was not saved from criticism. She was the sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and played a vital role in Pakistan’s independence movement. She was a sagacious stateswoman, politician, a close adviser to her brother and co-founder of the Pakistan Women’s Association, which aided in settlement of migrating women at the time. However, she faced intense criticism and was even labelled as a traitor for raising her voice against the unconstitutional decisions those in power took.
Moreover, women leaders are also constantly criticised for their clothes, hairstyle, make-up, and even how they talk. Hillary Clinton, for example, was criticised for her pantsuits and “shrill” voice. Likewise, Michelle Obama was criticised for her clothing choices and “unfeminine” physique. Even Queen Elizabeth II has not been spared from criticism, with some saying that she is too old and out of touch.
Sheryl Sandberg, the CEO of Facebook and author of Lean In, was constantly targeted for her leadership style. She was accused of being too aggressive and pushy. Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, was often criticised for her strict leadership style. She was also charged with being too corporate and not understanding the needs of ordinary people. Oprah Winfrey, the world-famous talk show host and media mogul, was criticised for her weight, personal life, and business dealings.
Sexual Harassment – An Unfortunate Reality for Women Leaders
Sexual harassment is yet another roadblock on the way to women’s success in the workplace. It is one of the biggest obstacles women face when trying to achieve equality in the workplace.
There are several reasons why sexual harassment is such a big problem for women leaders. First of all, it is a form of discrimination. Women are already disadvantaged in the workplace, and sexual harassment only makes it harder for them to succeed.
Second, sexual harassment can be very emotionally damaging for women as the victims of sexual harassment feel unsafe and humiliated and may even suffer from anxiety and depression. Harassment at the workplace creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, leading to decreased productivity and employee morale. Finally, sexual harassment can harm women’s careers. It can make it difficult for them to get promoted or continue their job due to the hostile working conditions they have to deal with, especially if they decide to raise their voice against their harasser.
Casual Sexism
Casual sexism is also a serious obstacle that women face in the workplace. Men belittle or dismiss women in subtle and often unconscious ways. It can be anything from making a demeaning joke about a woman’s intelligence to questioning her competence simply because she is a woman.
Casual sexism is so ingrained in our society that many people don’t even realise they’re doing it. However, everyday sexism has severe consequences for women leaders. In addition to making women feel less confident in their abilities and pushing them to give up on their goals, casual sexism also discourages other women from pursuing leadership roles. This is because when young women see how women in power are treated, they get discouraged from pursuing similar goals as they don’t want to be subjected to the same treatment.
How to Fight the Bias?
It is high time that we teach the future generations of women that they have the right to and should occupy positions of authority despite the fact that they may be subjected to a media storm of criticism and misogyny. It is important to continue to fight for gender equality in the workplace.
Positive Role Models
One of the ways to encourage more women to pursue leadership roles is to raise strong and confident women who know their worth and refuse to accept anything less than they deserve. We can also support and promote women leaders so that they have a positive impact on future generations of women. We need to continue to speak out against casual sexism and harassment. We also need to support women leaders when they are facing criticism. Only then will we see real change and achieve true gender equality.
Dream Big and Trust Yourself
There are still many barriers women face when it comes to leadership positions. One of the biggest obstacles is the lack of confidence. Women must dream big and believe in their abilities to succeed. We need to support and encourage women to continue to take on leadership responsibilities. Only when this happens will we see any real improvement.
Corporate Sector Must Actively Recruit Women in Leadership Roles
One way to achieve equality is by recruiting women employees in various leadership positions. However, according to the Global Gender Report (2020), only 36 per cent of senior private sector executives and public service officials are women.
To overcome the existing gender gap in the leadership position, there is a need to promote an environment where everyone has an opportunity to succeed based on their abilities. Employers must start evaluating job applicants based on their skills and experience, not their gender. Besides encouraging women to apply for leadership roles, those in power need to support them throughout the process. This will help break down women’s barriers and ensure they have a fair chance at success.
Provide Training Opportunities
According to recent research on Women Leadership, including 3,000 professional women in the United States, confidence-building and leadership training are essential factors for increasing the number of female leaders in the future.
Organisations must implement comprehensive training modules on women empowerment to create a more inclusive workplace culture and promote gender equality. Such training programs will help women to understand how gender affects their lives.
They will be able to learn the skills they need to achieve gender equality in their daily lives. Targeted women’s development programs delivered in a woman-only environment will help women develop skills that will allow them to manage their careers effectively. It will also help them recognise and overcome personal and professional hurdles and take responsibility for their growth and development.
Eliminate Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
Unconscious bias is another major obstacle that women leaders face. This is when people judge others based on their biases and prejudices. According to Forbes (2018), two types of unconscious bias, descriptive biases and prescriptive biases, are demonstrated in the workplace.
Descriptive bias is a term that refers to the preconceived notions we have about what men and women “should be like.” For example, assuming women to be nurturing and caring instead of ambitious. Prescriptive bias refers to expectations about how gender “should behave.” Both descriptive and prescriptive biases are significant barriers to gender equality.
When a strong and assertive woman gets promoted to a senior leadership position, she becomes the target of hatred and criticism because people expect her to be more empathetic and polite. While male leaders are usually criticised for their policies or work-related decisions, female leaders are often attacked personally, primarily due to the unconscious bias that exists in the workplace. The gender-based bias may also lead to quick assumptions of incompetence, poor fit, and ineffective leadership.
We need to eliminate unconscious bias in the workplace by increasing awareness and understanding of the issue. We need to create an environment where everyone is treated equally and respectfully. We also need to provide training on the unconscious bias so people can learn how to identify and avoid it.
Encourage Women-Friendly Culture
A women-friendly culture is supportive of women and their career goals. Therefore, we need to encourage a women-friendly culture in the workplace so that more women feel comfortable and supported in their careers. This could include mentorship and networking opportunities, training on unconscious bias, and family-friendly provisions.
Women still face many obstacles when it comes to achieving leadership positions. However, there are ways to overcome these obstacles. By developing a thick skin and learning to shrug off the occasional criticism, you can become a successful leader regardless of gender. Additionally, it’s crucial to surround yourself with supportive people who will help you navigate the challenges of a leadership position.
