Are Women Truly Getting Their Fair Share in the Corporate World? Let's Discuss!

Have women found their due share in the corporate world?

This is a very important aspect of the growth of our country. Much as we talk about the talent crunch in the HR fraternity as a whole, we fail to recognize the aspect of increasing the number of women employees within our organizations. I want to ask each of you to let us know your thoughts on the topic - if, according to you, women have been able to get a share in the corporate world? If yes, please elaborate on why you think so. If you feel they have not got their due share, please tell us what, according to you, should be done to ensure that it is achieved. Feel free to disagree and debate.

The role of women worldwide is undergoing a dramatic change. Women today share the podium with men in almost all fields, but still, men represent the greater proportion of the corporate world.

Came across an article in India today where it states the following:

May 2002, New Delhi, (WFS): A national daily recently ran a news story saying that at the turn of the century, big names in India Inc. treasure an unwritten code: "Do not employ women."

A national daily quoted Pallavi Jha, former chairperson of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) (Maharashtra Region) as saying, "A study on women graduates of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, showed that more than 70 per cent do not pursue a career."

Major roadblocks for women who aspire to achieve and succeed in organizations are the presence of social and role constraints imposed upon them by society, the family, and women themselves. These constraints are referred to as myths fostered and sustained with preconceived ideas and unsupported evidence, which generate guilt in women.

Myths applied to women in business:

- Women switch jobs more frequently than men.
- Women would not work if economic reasons did not force them into the labor market.
- Women fall apart in a crisis.
- Women are too concerned with the social aspects of their jobs and cannot be trusted with important matters.
- Women are more concerned than men about working conditions.
- Women are not willing to travel extensively for the organization.
- Women put their heart above their head, so at times, they become overemotional.

Hey Malini, "Myths" nahi "Sachhai" hai. Jokes apart, here are some real facts:

1) "Ladkiyaan na ho to yahaan job karne kaun time se aaye, yahi to hain jo hum log daily time se pahunch jaate hain."

2) "Mann laga ke 'unka' assignment pehle ker dete hain."

3) "Jabardasti pangey lete hain, taaki aage baat karne ka reason milta rahe."

4) "Ab ladkiyaan nahin hongi, to rastey me hi khade hoke PARANTHEY kha lenge. Ladkiyon ke saath to kisi achhey restaurant me jaake lunch karo, aur BILL bhi hanste hanste de do."

5) Client kitna bhi rukha ho, receptionist ko phone pakda do, apne aap sahi se baat karega. To conclusion ye hai ki "BHAAYA LADKIYAAN TO HONI HI HONI CHAHIYEIN, WARNA MAIN NAHIN KHEL RAHAA... I mean MAIN NAHIN JOB KER RAHA."

Hi Deepika,

Thanks for initiating a wonderful topic for discussion :).

I agree with Malini to a great extent. While the number of females is increasing, very few reach greater heights. I believe, primarily they don't reach top positions due to the following reasons -

Family values - Majority of females grow up with the basic value that they need to earn just to support their families, not to excel in their career.

Urge to grow - Few females really want to make it to the top. So it's not competence or intelligence but the desire to grow that lacks in most females. They are content with what they have, again due to social values and being in a male-dominated society.

Support - If a male wants to pursue a long way in his career, he gets a lot of support from his family. However, if a female wishes to pursue a career and reach the top, she does not get the support she should. For example, extra working hours, travel, official meetings, and parties are not welcomed by family members.

With this, I would reemphasize that females have the required competence to make it to the highest level in a corporate setting only if they are able to cross the barriers mentioned above.

THE ONE WHO IS DETERMINED, WILL MAKE A WAY & SURPASS ALL BARRIERS :-P

Hi Deepika,

Great discussion. By the way, is this a study for you or just a general discussion?

Coming to the point, I think corporate India is still dominated by the male fraternity. The larger section of which still has conservative values and outlook towards women (women don't work, women aren't intelligent, women can't do technical work, working women aren't good homemakers, etc). However, in the coming years, the outlook of young men towards women will change. I anticipate this because they are being brought up by fairly modern parents, where both parents are educated and most mothers are working. Hence, the young men of tomorrow will not view women as less capable beings at the workplace.

Lastly, I believe that women have not and might not get their due share anywhere! Why? Because we are ready to sacrifice our share of success and glory for our men and find happiness in their success. We are made that way.

Regards, Shikha

P.S. - Where have all the men gone?

Yes indeed, women find their "deserving" share in today's corporate arena. The frustration among female employees for the said issue is a result of the "Improper Time Management" by them, which they don't want to address when it comes to them.

But this is the harsh reality which should be taken very seriously. Women were and will be recognized as successful businesswomen, provided that they put in the desired time on their jobs and duties. However, the fact is Indian women, especially, are tied up with family chores, kids' maintenance, and household daily planning, controlling, and executions.

Every woman, irrespective of whether she is married or unmarried, affluent or middle-class, has to be "multitasking," and now the species of women who manage to strike this delicate balance are rewarded as successful. The ladies who simply couldn't balance out things and time in the "Family Chakra" are placed in another category, where one of the easiest defenses is to talk and raise these issues of unequal jobs and harassment.

My submission is that females should take the responsibility of themselves and try to walk a little extra mile... because they have to.