Girl Talk 2020
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs we enter 2020, I have been ruminating on the status of women today.
I saw “Little Women” and “Bombshell” and finished reading “Brotopia” and binge-watched “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” over the holiday break.
That’s a whole lot of feminist pop culture in a short time span.
I’m hoping that respect for women, equal pay, and more funding for women-led start-ups all become realities in the decade ahead.
Advancement of “women in tech” doesn’t just mean knowing how to code. Some of us choose tech-related careers involving marketing, talent, and other “soft skills” and one might argue that the human aspects of developing and explaining AI and robotics are as important as the technical aspects. Tech is a commodity. Heart and soul (and business, writing and people skills) are rarities and should be valued at the same level.
I aspire to see the end of pussy-grabbing chatter and Bitch-Slapping (women’s inhumanity to other women) in the decade ahead. I never again want to hear the “c-word” unless it stands for collaboration, commerce, conversation, community, or chocolate.
I want to see more women on stages at conferences (especially those of us over 50) and fewer women who feel compelled to lie about their ages, display their breasts, and inject their faces in order to get a date or the attention of men at business gatherings.
Speaking up in the face of sexism or ageism (or both) doesn’t have to be angry or whiney. Courage and persistence in presenting the facts and learning how to stand up to bullying and disrespect are critical. Women need to continue to mentor other women and teach them to be strong and savvy. Balancing our feminine sides with our conviction and drive is essential.
Admittedly, many men are confused. They don’t understand the rules and roles these days. We have an obligation to explain and enlighten rather than alienate, speaking up without fear when we see bad behavior or inequality.
As far as we’ve come, we have a long way to go. Corsets have been replaced by Spanx, which I suppose is a good thing. But regardless of our body image, we need to use our brains and voices to continue to define our place in the workplace and in the world.
As of December 31st, 2019 we numbered 3,847,299,480. That certainly seems like enough voices to make a difference.
Thanks, Nancy! So timely for all of us.
I have benefited from working with so many really good men who did not even notice gender. How can we engage these good men to be our advocates?
My own research indicates that to be elected to a corporate Board in the US, you must have very strong and very persistent champions on those Boards who will champion you no matter what others say or do.
Since most corporate Boards in the US are filled with white men over age 60 how can we engage them in a way that makes them willing to invest in females?
Let’s ponder and see how we might design an entire marketing campaign to get women noticed at all levels in tech!
I like that you mentioned that women don’t have to be whiny or angry to get ahead. It’s amazing that it’s 2020 and we still haven’t had a woman president even though many other countries have. Although when you see what many young women post on Instagram (as in butt and boob shots) we may have a way to go.