Women at work on equal ground
Women who work with men and use the words “sexual harassment” as a substitute to their solving a problem, are doing themselves a disfavor. (Of course, there is no place for someone forcing themselves on another in the workplace or anywhere. Criminal behavior should always be addressed.)
I have experienced many opportunities. I also have experienced working or serving with men with whom I disagreed, either about their decisions or their behavior. I dealt with those men as individuals, not as representatives of a gender. I looked ahead as to what was needed to improve our attaining of the goals.
If a woman thinks she is at a disadvantage in a workplace because she is a woman, it will taint her decision-making. We have the option, always, to change jobs when the environment does not suit us. Focus on getting the job done. There are definite advantages to being a woman. Learn to work with men, knowing that both genders bring something positive to the table.
And most of all, one should forge ahead to be the best one can be. It certainly is more rewarding.
As I witness my three adult sons in the workplace of today, I see that it’s no piece of cake for men as they navigate in the world of political correctness and false, and sometimes silly, charges being filed.
The women I respect most are women like former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. They accomplished so much and never whined about how a person of a particular gender or a particular race treated them.
Rice’s father, as told by her in her book “Extraordinary, Ordinary People,” advised her that she could be anything she wanted to be — that she just might have to work a little harder, but she could do it. That advice was well-taken, for her positive attitude, credentials, and work ethic are to be admired.
I appreciate the changes made by people before me who took a stand on issues such as women’s suffrage and equal pay for equal work. These changes were achieved not only by hardworking women, but also by the fairminded, forward-thinking men who sought change right along with them. Fortunately, America is a country which is always looking to improve itself.
Young ladies can make it in today’s America. They shouldn’t waste time, energy, emotion and life’s enjoyment by pointing out that things are going wrong because they are women. What an embarrassing act of defeat. What a nonproductive exercise. What a blemish on a resume.
Janet Blank East Liberty Waterford