"Challenges Faced By Women In The Corporate World"

"Challenges Faced by Women in the Corporate World"

I recently attended a workshop on "Challenges faced by Women in the Corporate World," and some of the points that people raised were very interesting. I would like to start a discussion about the same here so you can enumerate what challenges you think women face in the corporate world and what the solutions to them are in your view.

Dear Colleague,

I welcome your maiden post in the HR Community. You have started a nice topic for discussion as well. You mentioned that you heard some interesting points in the workshop. Could you please present them to the members of the community to trigger their thoughts and encourage them to share their ideas?

Wishing you active participation in this forum.

R. Sundararajan

I recently switched my job to a project-based company in Bangalore. It's been 2 plus months, and I have not received a project even though I am extremely talented. I find there is a lot of partiality going on within the team and team managers. Projects go only to those who are the manager's pets. Now, I am asked to go to another location, Mumbai, for a short-term project. They are threatening me to go there. In this case, what should I do? Should I resign as they are not listening to any of my pleas? I won't be able to go to any other location as I have commitments here. I wouldn't find a job in Bangalore if I had to relocate. Please advise.

Challenges are faced by everyone in the corporate world. I do not agree that women face more extraordinary challenges than men. If women claim equal compensation to men, then we have to manage tasks on par with men and face more challenges.

Hi,

Dear Sunny,

Indeed, you have touched on a very interesting topic.

Well, in the meantime, I came across a very interesting article in today's Times Of India. It says that there are two major enemies that today's women face.

The first is, of course, the 'glass ceiling,' which has been prevalent in the corporate world for quite some time.

For those new to this concept, the meaning of the glass ceiling represents a gender or racial inequality in the chances of advancement into higher levels, not merely the proportions of each gender or race currently at those higher levels. Simply put, the glass ceiling is a barrier that does not allow women (even though they are highly qualified/educated) to advance further in the hierarchical structure of the company. It may be due to gender, caste differences, etc.

One of the other major enemies is called the 'sticky floor.' It's the comfort zone from which women would rather not shift, usually for personal reasons. It can be summed up as follows: A man looks in the mirror and sees a senator, whereas a woman has to be pushed to see herself in the top jobs.

Waiting for your comments!

Hi,

What I suggest is first to go through your employment contract/appointment letter. If it is stated in the letter that the company has the right to transfer you anywhere in India as per the demands of the project, then there is not much you can do because you have already signed on the dotted line.

If the company is still threatening you to leave, but you do not want to leave, then your only option is to resign. Anyways, do not worry; the job market is improving these days, so you will surely find another job pretty soon.

All the Best!!

I think one of the challenges would be the access to a lot of tacit information. Such information that is available with support staff such as peons, drivers, etc., or is available in the typical "washroom talk" or while smoking/drinking together. There is a different camaraderie among men, and they can talk across such groups, while women may find it difficult to cut into groups, especially with peons, drivers, security guards, etc.

Women do face a lot of challenges, but they do come up with even better results at the end of it.

I do agree with you, Sunny. Of course, we have many problems in the workplace. For example, unfortunately, we could not bring or drive the vehicle to the office, so we depend on our male colleague to give us a ride. The next moment, the name of the female employee (alone) will be in the rumor mill. This is such a pathetic and ridiculous challenge faced by women in the corporate world.

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Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

The biggest challenge starts from home. Even if the woman is holding a full-time job, the whole responsibility of running the household still lies with her. This makes it more difficult to accept the additional stress of the office also. It keeps a lot of employees from moving out of their comfort zone even if they are qualified or talented.

Dear Ms. Poornakala,

With reference to your post on driving and pooling transport with a male colleague, it is not a challenge unique to the corporate world. This is a common grapevine situation that everyone, both males and females, faces.

To all readers,

When considering the challenges faced by females, why are the struggles of females specifically highlighted? In reality, everyone in this world is battling some form of challenge, whether it be discrimination, ability, racism, financial hardships, physical obstacles, or mental barriers.

Therefore, it is essential to maturely face these challenges, confront them head-on, and live through them. Outstanding performance, whether by females or males, will naturally stand out, and the results will speak for themselves. In the corporate realm, achievements are recognized and valued only when they impact the bottom line. When an employee contributes significantly to the actual business outcomes, their gender becomes irrelevant.

Hence, it is crucial to step out into the sunlight, ground yourself, make sales, put in extra hours just like your male counterparts, and refrain from relying on female advantages such as leaving early due to safety concerns, family commitments, social functions, or avoiding certain tasks. These are simply excuses that hinder progress.

I must clarify that these observations are based on my limited experience, and I do not intend to generalize them to all female workers. There are exceptional examples of both females and males who have faced challenges and emerged victorious.

The focus of this post is on the "Challenges faced by Women in the Corporate World." What are the specific challenges that women encounter that warrant such careful consideration?

Is it discrimination or bias in promotions?

As previously mentioned, the key is to perform and excel to gain recognition in the workplace. Every employee, regardless of gender, must strive to have their work acknowledged and receive credit for their efforts. If an organization practices discrimination or favoritism, it affects everyone, not just females.

Does male ego hinder women from advancing up the corporate ladder? (Glass ceiling)

The current times are witnessing a shift in attitudes and greater awareness. I have personally witnessed a significant change in how men perceive women. Fathers now take pride in their daughters' achievements, husbands support their working wives with household chores, and brothers encourage their sisters in various life decisions. In the workplace, individuals are primarily judged based on their ability to perform tasks, regardless of gender. I have had the privilege of working under a female manager who excelled in business management through hard work and achieving sales targets.

If women feel that male egos at the top management hinder their progress, perhaps they need to push harder and demonstrate their capabilities. In reality, everyone faces challenges in promotions and acknowledgment for their hard work, irrespective of gender.

Do men feel threatened by women rising to positions of power?

While this may be true to some extent, it is more of a human nature trait rather than a gender-specific issue. Individuals who attain power sometimes exhibit arrogance or a superiority complex, regardless of gender, due to societal conditioning over centuries.

As women ascend to positions of power, they may display a similar assertiveness as men, which may not always be well-received in a changing society. However, attitudes are gradually evolving. It is essential to acknowledge that achievements and positions of power should be based on merit, not gender.

In various aspects of life, such as marriage alliances, social circles, and household dynamics, women asserting their power and success are often viewed differently than men in similar positions. This discrepancy stems from societal norms and perceptions.

I firmly believe that all individuals are equal. Regardless of gender, individuals with equal opportunities and abilities will face challenges, and their ability to overcome these obstacles is a testament to their mental strength.

There are no challenges specifically tailored for women by men. When faced with difficulties, both men and women must exhibit resilience and confront them head-on. It is crucial to focus on individual abilities and opportunities rather than seeking special considerations based on gender.

Thank you for reading. Your feedback is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Hussain

Dear Hussain,
That's really nice work and observations.
A few contradicts from my side:
In today’s world female are opting for other streams as well like sales, finance, event management and as mentioned by you HR. All these functions required hard work and dedication. You cannot say that HR is 9-6 job and sales job is not abide by office timing. Every job has their own requirement and share of commitments levels.
Females have to balance both Office & home and that’s why it’s important for them to be there at home on time for their children and other dependents. There are few safety related issues, which you will also agree, that females has to keep in their mind while working.
Facing all these small issues and maintaining that required balance between Home and Office females these days are doing excellent.
As you correctly mentioned at the end it’s your performance and dedication which makes you shine.

Regards
Shree
A few contradicts from my side

Hi Hussain,

Thanks for spicing it up. I don't think professionals (men and women) compromise on their output because of time schedules. It may be 5 pm, but it's 5 pm for all professionals. Maybe somewhere in the government sector, the 9 to 5 applies blindly. But in that case, this syndrome applies to the men as well.

Dina has hit the bullseye. It's the home front that is the biggest challenge. Whether men like it or not, the fact is that even today, at least in India, it's the woman's responsibility to keep the house running and in ship shape. Whether she is working or not is not the criteria. I know just a couple of men who help out equally at home. Please don't think this is a complaint. It's just an expression of facts.

Another challenge that women face is the 'eye candy' syndrome. Usually, a good-looking woman is either a target by her boss or some numbskull who considers them 'worth a chase'. Ironically, some women who have chosen the less moral way of climbing the ladder have added to this chain reaction.

Another challenge is in being a woman. If a woman stays back late, people gossip that she is neglecting her home; if she is pally with her boss, she is surely having an affair; if she dresses up well, then people gossip that she is useless in her work and hence has to resort to dressing up well as a cover-up.

Please don't think this is the extract of just another 'forward mail' or a saucy book. I have witnessed enough incidents to substantiate my claims. And not in any ordinary organization, but highlisters in Fortune 500.

On a brighter note, I have many friends (women, professionals) who have not gone through any of these challenges. Thank God.

At the end of the day, performance counts: at work, at home, with kids, with in-laws... :)

My statements are not to hurt the sentiments of the readers. Just an expression of facts.

Regards

Hi Ninpins,

With reference to your response, I agree that all fingers are not the same. I did mention in my post that this is not a generalized opinion about women in general, but rather for those who take the challenges women face in the corporate world as a limiting barrier to growth rather than a sincere effort to rise up.

I appreciate the forum to showcase problems faced by women in life or in corporate settings, but these challenges are a natural occurrence of life and situations, rather than being generalized to males as responsible for such plights.

Taking care of a home is a valid reason, and I feel it's the responsibility of both men and women to make a home. How they divide the work is up to the man and wife to decide. If a woman is burdened with lots of housework, then it's her personal problem to sort out with her family or personal partner; this is not a corporate challenge. Whether it's India or America, priorities remain the same. Why are women bestowed with the title of homemakers? Isn't a man involved in making a home too? It's not anyone's domain; it has to be both—it's teamwork. If it's not happening practically in India now, then it shall happen as and how there is awareness. With changing times, situations are changing, but the one who dares, has the ability, and has the will doesn't wait for the time to change— they change the time. I'm talking about women like Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Indira Gandhi, Annie Besant, Sudha Murthy, Indra Nooyi, Leela Poonawalla, Anu Aga, and many more who have worked against the odds and made it big.

The Eye Candy Syndrome, Pally with Boss Rumours, Neglecting family, and Fancy Dressing—these are more social challenges women face rather than only in the corporate world. This kind of attitude towards women stems from personal bias, prejudice, and social gossip. In fact, these issues are faced by anyone, irrespective of gender. They are usually office grapevine social gossip, which happens everywhere in social circles as well. However, it's wrong and demeaning towards women or anyone who is subject to such wrong accusations. My point is that these challenges are also faced by men.

Any hardworking person is criticized or mocked by those who are lazy in the office. Whether one likes it or not, a simple smiling gesture can be construed wrongly by onlookers depending on their perceptions.

These are existing challenges in society that everyone faces—men and women. So why consider the plight of women to be more painful and worth a thought? These challenges, in general, should be given serious education and awareness so that no one faces bias and discrimination whatsoever.

If a pretty girl is picked for a job based on looks rather than qualifications, that is acceptable to the female. But when she is rejected due to biased outlook, it's a corporate challenge, and women find it tough to resolve.

Real corporate challenges in climbing the promotion ladder include meeting deadlines, exceeding targets, work-life balance, office politics, economic factors, recognition of efforts, and results, etc., which are applicable to both men and women, or rather, all professionals.

Anyone who has the will to face it has the might to fight it.

Referring to the post "Men are Beasts of Burden," a very good article worth reading related to this discussion.

Thanks,

Hussain

Hi, I feel the same challenges in my present organization. Being very talented and qualified for the position I am presently working on, my manager is still not providing me an on-roll position. It is all because I am unable to work late in the office like other male colleagues and show my presence and work dedication.

Hi All,

One of the main challenges that women face is that not many are able to take on assignments which require them to spend extra hours or odd hours in the office. This eventually becomes a barrier to their growth.

Thanks,
Swapnil

Hello, guys, I have gone through the discussion and found it very nice. It's good to share different experiences and thoughts, cracking somebody's head somewhere for the benefit of all. The topic is quite good; people should get to know that women and children are considered a vulnerable group in most of the world challenges. That's why I think the concern has been raised to address the matter and provoked us/scholars for a serious debate on the same.

I can trace the problem at hand from the social/religious and cultural theories and practices, of which it's difficult at some point to totally compare women and men to be the same or different, on the other hand. The fact is that there are so many cases which demonstrate how women are undermined in the corporates and other forms of institutions. It's my wish to have had time and at least present some few cases of the violation and/or malpractices against women.

Considering your ideas, I'm of the opinion that the challenges and/or even problems faced by women in the corporates emanate from non-adherence to the laws of the land. Should managers and every employee in the organization be well acquainted with the laws, specifically those governing their relationship with employers, many of the addressed problems shall have no space, like the famously discrimination, which is the root of many challenges spoken here. For instance, we cannot say that women cannot work at certain hours; the question should be, what does the law say? We can't say women are not developed in the organization while the organization has well-articulated HRM policies on training and development, and the law requires equal opportunity for all from the recruitment stage and at working life in the organization. Many employees in corporates are not aware of their legal rights, as a result, crying and dying silently—the voices unheard, no matter how they shout. Obviously, the basic fear many hold is the losing of a job and the perceived unfairness in the courts of justice supplemented by financial capacity. Corporates are registered and legally recognized business institutions, which are not only socially bound to follow the laws of the land they are operating from but also manage their human resources with dignity and respect for the profound and worldly practiced human rights. Insights have been given from the Constitution and the labor laws.

As a Corporate Trainer & Counsellor, the most important challenge is the timing for corporate women. The Indian Family system demands more time at home in order to nurture the family. In spite of having maids and cooks, the family/society expects the presence of women to be important.

I would like to add that the male chauvinist attitude is a hurdle that women find in their professional life. A group of male chauvinists can make a woman feel almost defeated! There is always a temptation to undermine a woman who holds power.

Dear All,

It is all in the mind... Let me explain from my personal observation. I am a father of a daughter who is working in Navratna of PSU. She dresses well, looks good, and carries herself well. I am an HR Head, and when I discuss these types of issues with her, she does not give a damn. She simply says that it is performance that counts. When the office closes at 5 pm, there are many occasions when she reaches home at 9 or 10 pm. I am surprised at the way she talks sometimes with her colleagues. Her voice is cold, impassionate, sharp, and cutting. She speaks void of emotions. But she is so friendly with them as well that when there is a personal occasion like a birthday, everybody flocks in to wish and gift. However, the next day she is somebody different.

I think it is ultimately how you carry yourself. Dressing well does not invite eyes. Behaving friendly does not invite rumors. Be bossy and be pally too.

Women are an entirely different lot today. There are still many timid and tense women, but they are there in males too. Anyway, good luck to all of you womenfolk here. I agree with one thing that at the end of the day, you need to take care of the house as well. But I have known households who never cooked at home because the lady is working. Facilities are available nowadays; make use of them. For that one lady who said that going to the office in a male colleague's car, please learn driving. Many ladies drive now.

Corrected by Grammar and Spelling Correction Agent.

Today, women face a lot of challenges in the workplace despite the so-called "equality." When one looks at the ratio of men and women making it to the top, it is really disturbing. Women, especially working mothers, are at times denied positions of higher responsibility because their employers think that they will not be able to live up to the responsibility due to having small children. The bottom line is, we have to pay the cost if we attempt to balance our work and family life.

Regards,
Swati Verma

The discussion has been very interesting, with views for and against the subject.

I would just like to add that every employee gets opportunities and faces challenges in their careers. It is the choices a woman makes during her career that will determine how she rises in the corporate world. Balancing family and work is a challenge that only she can resolve. Her choice would determine her career progression.

Safety of women traveling at night is still a big problem and may be a limiting factor in her growth.

In current times, a woman has to stand up for herself, make her choices, feel empowered.

Dear Shree,
I do agree with you. I believe the biggest challenge for working women is to maintain right balance between office & home responsibility. As far as male ego concerns, yes it actually happens in the corporate world but again its upto a female how she tackles that. I believe one should not give much importance to all these things and just concentrate on your good work. it will get appreciated sooner or later.
Thanks,
Isha

Hi,

I am currently pursuing my PhD in stress faced by professional women. Working women, especially from the corporate sector, face the problems of the glass ceiling, sticky floor, and many other challenges. To add to all this, the role at home and the conflicts that arise in balancing the dual role is something only a woman can explain. Does she really have the time to do so? But I think she really has the mental strength to face these challenges.

Uma Ravi

A big thumbs up for all those who understand and accept that women face challenges in the corporate world, and those challenges are more or less exclusive to women.

And Hussain, no hard feelings. Women don't blame men for incidents. As I mentioned earlier, there are some women who have created unsuitable examples, which are a bane. If a pretty girl is picked up for a job, I am sure she doesn't think that she got picked up because she was pretty but rather as a result of her merit. But again, there are exceptions.

Mr. Murthy, I am happy that your daughter carries herself well. I wish her success always.

Most women do carry themselves well.

I have worked in a Navratna. Let me share a couple of incidents.

A pretty lady became the object of an HOD's desire. Despite her refusal, he didn't change. Stopped her one evening on some pretext (through her boss) and tried to force her into submission. She escaped with torn clothes. Complained to the unit head. No result. Instead became the topic of gossip. She quit.

A pretty girl, CA, single, from a very decent family, carried herself well, became an eyesore to her boss only because he didn't like an intelligent woman subordinate. Tried his best to make each day unhappy. She quit as soon as she got a good offer. She mentioned this in her exit interview. Her HOD didn't do anything about it until today.

A pretty woman, mother of a toddler, intelligent, hardworking, always had the best of terms with colleagues and bosses, became the object of her HOD's attention. One day he told her, "You come from a good family, you are intelligent, you work hard, you are outstanding, but your only problem is that you don't come to ME. Look at Ms. XYZ, she sits in my cabin even after office hours." This woman replied, "I come to this office only for work." She spent the next 5 years in hell and finally quit. Her boss tried to protect her from the HOD, filled a written report (there were other harassments too) to the unit head but got transferred in the bargain. That report disappeared. Her next boss also tried to project her outstanding work and try to ensure her promotions don't get blocked, but he himself started getting harassed. The problem was that this HOD had good terms with the higher management.

There was another smart woman who faced problems because her HOD and boss felt that women should be at home rather than at the office and women should leave office jobs for men. She quit after working for a couple of years.

So, women who carry themselves well choose to quit rather than undergo such nonsense. I am sure some of you would say in defense that men get harassed similarly as well and quit too. Yeah, sure.

So as Joan pointed out suitably, male chauvinism is a big, big problem. There may be incidents where women have made the life of male colleagues miserable. I agree. Will surely speak for the men when the topic comes up. Right now the topic is about the challenges faced by women in the corporate world.

Apologies if I tread on any toes. But it would be unfair to mention facts and just argue for the sake of arguing.

Regards.

@ninpins

The incidents you mentioned are sad and unfortunate, and these are some of the many cases which go unreported. However, these are challenges as well as crimes done against a person, and the perpetrator should be brought to justice. These are acts of criminal minds and cannot be generalized as corporate challenges faced by women.

After the enlightening discussion on this forum, I admit that family commitments and work-life balance are challenges women face in balancing in the corporate world. This can be solved by equal participation and understanding between genders in dividing responsibilities at home and at work.

When it comes to harassment, as you mentioned, it is more about individual behavior, personal bias, male chauvinist pigs, and a criminal bent of mind which makes the lives of females or males in companies miserable. I don't have any relevant examples matching the ones you have mentioned, especially regarding sexual harassment and advancements towards men. It could be a rare occurrence compared to the ones faced by females. Sadly, this is how male dominance has been, and females don't get justice from this male dominance for crimes done against them. I don't support this male dominance either; I stress equality among all genders, whether females, males, or third-gender individuals.

Most of the examples of harassment you mentioned here are practices of individual behavior. I was quite shaken reading about such incidents; these are very criminal acts. But such persons would not spare anyone; they would harass another subordinate or colleague for their advantage in another way. Let me give you some examples where I have seen males being harassed too.

I was assigned to an HR consulting assignment and moved to a new team. The manager was an experienced guy and had a terrible attitude about his experience and knowledge. Although he didn't have any qualifications or experience in HR, he always dominated meetings and discussions with his viewpoints. He would humiliate me if I objected slightly to his suggestions or did not even consider a healthy discussion for what he proposed or designed. His words were the last words; he would blame me for his oversights and mistakes. He would simply make me work late hours, send me to the office on weekends to work while he relaxed, bore me for hours with his arrogant stories, didn't respect my personal commitments, and I used to miss family functions even after work hours or on weekends. When I couldn't take the humiliation, I complained to higher authority, I was asked to shut up and complete the assignment or resign from the assignment, and they would assign me something else, with an underlying taunt that this "misbehavior" would be considered in appraisals. When I resolved to continue with the assignment, I was mocked and laughed at by the manager. My work's credit was taken away by this guy; he would not allow me to interact with clients, treated me like an outsider, but would give me a heap of work to complete related to assignments. If there was a mistake, it was put on me, and if things went well, he humbly accepted the appreciation. Now you must be wondering why he has a biased attitude towards me. It is because he wanted his man inside for the job so he could speak his native language from his region. But when I was assigned due to my experience and qualifications, he became very uncomfortable. I don't wish to beat my drum, but for the sake of example, I had better fluency in communication and have a knack for interacting with local clients here. I'm dressed well, qualified, hardworking, and yes, a male. Can I call this harassment? And this is also prevalent with others (males and females) too. I won't single out men here.

Most of your cases were related to sexual harassment of women in the workplace. These are not challenges faced by women but rather ghastly crimes, which have no justification other than punishing the culprit. These kinds of men should be punished sternly and publicly humiliated so that a lasting example is set. These are social problems in our society, wrong upbringing, lack of justice.

Corporate challenges are difficult situations that shall be overcome by the person facing them.

There are cases where smart, qualified, deserving young male professionals are also sidelined by insecure and egoistic bosses. In fact, this is a general challenge faced by professionals in the company. My argument is not that it's only women who face this challenge, as you mentioned, but that men also face this challenge.

Regarding your response to pretty faces being picked without relevant qualifications, any pretty girl who is picked for a job without matching job specifications will not admit that she got picked because of her pretty face perceived by the biased selector. Everyone feels they got selected on merit. Find me one individual who honestly admits that they got selected for a job because they have a pretty face, big contacts, etc., and no qualifications or brains for the same.

Everyone fights against these issues. If females are harassed, they should fight it out till the end rather than give up and resign. Book the wrongdoer, mobilize opinions against wrong practices. There are bad people (males or females) in this world; accept it and fight it, rather than sit blaming "oh what are we supposed to do in this male dominant world, we can be just victims...we will suffer and resign."

Refer to the stories of women I mentioned earlier as a fine example of empowerment.

It's a matter of finding good and nice people. If harassment is too much to tolerate, seek new opportunities. This is applicable to both men and women!

Ninpins... I am shocked and surprised to read about the incident where you mentioned a lady ran with torn clothes. This is not a challenge faced by a woman in the workplace; this is a crime. Why should anybody suffer a crime in silence? If the management had not taken action, the lady should have gone to the police. You know the story of the Infosys officer in the US. As I mentioned before, I am the HR head of a reputed organization. A lady in the northern location of my organization gave me a complaint under our sexual harassment policy and provided me with a time limit to inform her of the proceedings. She mentioned that she keeps the option of going to the police open. (No incidents like torn clothes happened; it was more of a perception issue.) Anyway, this gives me another opportunity to tell all the ladies and even men: do not accept things passively. Be brave and face the world. And to others: let us not be like those passengers on Mumbai local trains who watched while a beggar assaulted a woman. Stand up for principles.

Hello,

Thanks for responding, Hussain and Mr. Murthy. I agree that these behaviors are particular to an individual's personality. It is sad that where I worked, there were many others like these guys. Women did stand up for their principles, and when they didn't get justice, they walked out. I often wondered why they didn't go to the police? I guess there must be a reason. Maybe she chose to retain whatever dignity was left and leave this episode behind. There are many more such incidents that I can mention, but that would make this site a writer's blog rather than a discussion forum.

Hussain, it's sad you had a tough boss. A pig, I would say. Look at the silver lining, your clothes are intact. :)

These things happen. And I would still say that changing or the lack of changing men's attitudes towards the acceptance of women in the office and their desire to continue to dominate is a CORPORATE problem, especially when such men bring these attitudes to the workplace.

It's nice to know through this forum that men and women would like to stand for their principles. I don't understand why one human would like to harass another.

Enjoy your day.

Regards

Hi Readers,

This has been a good discussion so far. However, I feel that we have not listed any challenges and their solutions. Our arguments have revolved around incidents rather than the long-term challenges women face in the corporate world or society as a whole. Based on my experiences, I suggest the following points:

Challenges:

• Balance Home and Work life!

• Face Discrimination due to Male Ego, Insecurity, and Social Structure!

• Lack of Education opportunities!

• Lack of Self-Belief among Women!

• Social Conditioning or Social Upbringing of Men and Women!

I encourage readers to put forward their views, both men and women who feel there are more challenges than those listed here, and also suggest solutions on how to eradicate or resolve them.

@ninpins, Thanks for recognizing my plight 😊. It was a hellish time I went through, but the learning was immense. Thank God I didn't go mad enough to tear my clothes out of frustration! 😄

@Mr. Murthy, I appreciate your views and the composure your daughter displayed in dealing with colleagues so professionally. This is what I feel is the right way to handle people, irrespective of whether a person is male or female. Direct, strict, and straightforward, yet with a smile and politeness in attitude.

If we all learn how to deal with people with the right attitude, many untoward incidents may be avoided. However, if there is an antisocial person out there, then even the best behavior will face harassment. These antisocial elements are best kept in prison or should be sent to Mercury to explore water! 😄

Best Wishes,

Hussain