Women’s History Month was established to honor women’s contributions to our history, and increase awareness of women’s achievements in our society. While I get the need to amplify women each March, I’m all for celebrating women regardless of the month. After all, females slightly outnumber males in the U.S., 50.6% to 49.4%, according to countrymeters.info which keeps a live population clock. So, in theory, women and men should be equal but we know that’s not the case. Let’s face it; there is no Men’s History Month.
But I digress. Back to the topic at hand: women. In 2022, women made up 58.4% of the U.S. workforce, according to Forbes, but held only 34% of senior leadership roles. And companies with women executives are 30% more likely to outperform other companies.
This data is nothing new. Women in the workforce rock, yet we are underrepresented in the upper echelons of the corporate world. So, I’ll concede that Women’s History Month is important because women are important to the wellbeing of our work, communities and society.
Stop the Stereotypes
It bothers me that that strong-willed women are portrayed on TV and in movies as bitchy and selfish rather than empowered and focused. Why is it that assertive, ambitious women are viewed as ignoring traditional gender expectations, like staying home and having babies? They are not mutually exclusive; it is possible to be a headstrong and driven professional and still be nurturing and communal.
I see it every day in my work: women helping and supporting other women. There are countless organizations that do just that. I’ve mentioned WomenVenture before and their mission of providing resources to help women entrepreneurs flourish. But there are plenty of other women-focused groups out there, from NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and WPO (Women Presidents Organization) to Ellevate, TeamWomen, and more.
But you don’t have to join a group to support women. You can do it in your everyday actions.
Action begets action
Isn’t it ironic: ambitious, driven women are knocked down for not being traditional enough, yet when women who do leave the workforce to raise a family decide they want to get back to their profession, they have a difficult time re-entering the working world. This is when a woman can rely on her network for help.
A talented woman I know took an extended leave from the professional world to care for her daughter with special needs. When the time was right and she was ready to re-enter the working world and get a job, she wasn’t sure where to look. I connected her with a friend who I thought could offer some guidance; it turned out, my friend was looking to hire someone, and after several conversations ended up offering her the job.
And this is not unique; I hear stories like this all the time of women supporting other women simply by opening their network. It’s easy and can lead to amazing results.
So as we go through March and Women’s History Month, let’s try to erase the notion that women are catty and back-stabbing and instead are supportive and nurturing. And wouldn’t it be nice if we got to a point when we didn’t even need a month to celebrate all that women accomplish and contribute? Until then, I wish all the ladies out there—and everyone who supports them—a happy Women’s History Month!
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