admin The age-old era of being circumscribed by household boundaries has met its inevitable demise. The modern age presents a whole new range of possibilities for women. It provides them with unmatched opportunities to explore their talents and capabilities in the most ingenious of ways. However, this does not necessarily mean that this new era, one that glorifies the role and image of the female breadwinner is devoid of its own share of misgivings. It is true that each historical epoch comes with its own set of opportunities and weaknesses. Such is also the case for the postmodern era we inhabit. Sex-selective abortions and female infanticides are still social evils plaguing our society. Gender biases are still quite palpable on both the domestic and professional fronts. The invisible glass ceiling still continues to limit what and how much a woman can achieve.
Nonetheless, what has been remarkably different about the current era is the space for exploration it has provided women. This has allowed them to dream as well as harness the courage needed to counter age-old traditions and conventions. Today, women have cultivated a sense of empowerment that allows them to stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in all sectors. Given the eminence of women in both the domestic and professional worlds, it is important for us to reprise her image in our minds. Listed below are some of the most formidable roles embodied by the modern woman:
The Courageous Homemaker
A woman’s role in her family is no longer defined solely by the ‘homemaker’ title. Rather she now exemplifies the role of a core contributor towards the family’s fortune and sustenance. Even those women who choose to remain homemakers should be deemed as essential contributors to a society’s progress and development. As Marxist feminists have often stated, a homemaker’s contribution towards the reproduction of a society’s labor force is incomparable.
Moreover, it is equally important to mention that homemakers these days are playing a vital role in their families — be it earning additional income or playing an active role in formulating and executing financial planning for their families. We need to acknowledge that running a household requires quite a significant degree of mathematical and psychological astuteness that has been aced by women over centuries.
The Entrepreneurial Leader
A powerful line by Margaret Thatcher that exemplifies the zeal and steadfastness of a woman asserts, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” It is this innate fire to overcome challenges and succeed in a particular field that helps guide women on their entrepreneurial journeys. An ingenious female entrepreneur is born each time a woman annihilates obstacles and asserts her capabilities and potentials. However, it is also true that on the journey to transform herself into an industrialist, her ability to achieve greatness is still questioned by not only society but also by her own family. She is pushed to prove her mettle at every stage of this journey. As compared to a man’s entrepreneurship journey, a woman’s journey is much more complicated as she is treated first as a woman and then as a leader. She must counter gender biases that make the path to success much more arduous.
At the same time, women’s contribution to the field of leadership and entrepreneurial brilliance is hardly one we can question. Despite these myriad obstacles, women leaders have proven themselves through their work time and time again. From the inception of the initial idea to the entirety of the evolution process, and the establishment of business operations and consequent business growth, their entrepreneurial initiatives are guided by a specific experience gained by surviving in a complex and multilayered cultural environment.
The Professional Pioneer
The professional field haswitnessed the rise of several pioneering women who have reimaged the way the domain of skilled occupations functioned. In the field of highly skilled professions likemedicine,teaching, law, engineering, and many more, women leaders have carved their names in gold. Women today are leading technicians, pilots, engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and professors. Although she has to counter several challenges because of her gender during the course of her professional career, she refuses to give up.
Owing to this zealous outlook of a woman, the representation of women in the professional field has steadily risen. As more women attain higher education the chances of women dominating this field is an optimistic thought at this point.
The Invaluable Organizational Asset
It is now a scientifically proven doctrine that women make better leaders owing to their ability to make bold and wise decisions at crucial points during a business’s growth journey. They also make better leaders owing to their empathetic outlooks and unmatched cognitive skills. They contribute towards making the organization’s environment much more cooperative and conflict-free. This boosts teamwork across the organization and helps implement a new culture within the business which leads to an acceleration of the organization’s growth. Her ability to boost collaborations and productivity helps inspire greater dedication among workers while reducing instances of employee burnouts.
Thus, in the modern world, women have successfully proven themselves as equal partners, standing on the same footing as their male counterparts. All that’s required for women today is the right opportunity. Once she is presented with one, you simply must step back and see her shine and flourish.
About the Author
Ms. Savitri Kannan is a Managing Director at TLG Media LLP, the largest online and print community platform to acquaint with the global Leaders from diverse industries who make the world a better place.
She has an ample experience in Accounting and Marketing. She has previously worked in leadership roles with several organizations. She has passion for searching, researching, learning new things and acquiring immense knowledge. She holds a Master Degree in Commerce from Pune University.
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