Do women hit their head against glass ceilings of their own making? That’s what the Brookings Institution suggests in a report about the lack of female political candidates. An interesting editorial (Our Own Glass Ceilings) by Ruth Marcus goes on to describe how the career ambitions of professional women often shift once they become parents. All this talk makes me want to take a sledge hammer to the nearest glass ceiling. But perhaps not for the reasons you think.
My problem with all the clucking over women’s lack of ambition and glass ceilings (self-imposed or otherwise) is the implicit assumption that ‘ambitious’ must mean the pursuit of demanding, high-profile, and often high-paying positions. To NOT be ambitious in one’s work is viewed as lacking. Says who?!?!?
I know plenty of Wise Women (married, single, parents, child-free, in their 20’s through 60’s) who choose a less ‘ambitious’ career path, one that reflects their desire to have meaningful relationships and a healthy lifestyle, as well as work, in their lives. How can living a full, rich life be considered “less than” the more visible success achieved by politicians and private sector leaders? (Not that there’s anything wrong with those choices, either, but are they really the gold standard against which we must measure ourselves?!?!)
What do you think? What are the repercussions (good and bad) of choosing career paths that are less high-powered? Are we women shooting ourselves in the foot after years of fighting for equal access? Have you (or people you know) figured out how to balance your career goals with the rest of your lives?
5-29-2008 23:17:41
Great topic….had to devote an entire blog to it – Friday, May 30th.
5-30-2008 07:05:09
Who anticipated in the heady days of the women’s liberation movement that we would still be asking these questions? “Can women have it all?”
Life is a series of choices. Certainly, women can have fullfilling careers, be good mothers, good wives, good friends. However, if a woman chooses her family as her priority; she most likely will look for a job that permits flexibility and doesn’t demand long hours. There is a perception that she lacks ambition.
I argue the opposite is true. A woman who manages a family, a career, and career work, and does it well, is ambitious.
5-31-2008 07:27:40
Exactly, Catherine! It’s just a different type of ambition. I think many of who us choose that route buy into the notion that we’re not fulfilling our potential (which, of course, is defined as career potential) and somehow feel the need to explain/justify/defend our choices.
9-30-2008 22:30:24
Hello Ladies,
First time on here…
Having worked since I was 16 to the age of 60, and just having retired from teaching after 30 yrs.
I thought my retirement would be full of ambition. But now I stare at two bedrooms in need of cleaning with stacks of things to sort and would rather sleep the day away.
I should add that I was a workaholic when in my career and my husband, just retired from 35 yrs. in teaching, is very hyper and an early riser who cannot stand my sleeping so much.
The love of my life is our brain-damaged daughter who is age 30, but 3 yrs. mentally. I never feel I am a good enough Mom to her as I spend time with her and attend to her daily needs, but don’t work with her.
I have started writing a novel..have three chapters on my laptop.
We have two active grandsons (our son is married) I watch a couple times a week. If I add in lunch with a girlfriend I feel my week is now full.
There is nothing I wake up exited about…it feels like my life is over and I have learned all the mysteries of life I wanted to…
My younger sister has cancer and I go to see her on weekends a state away, but it’s getting harder to be encouraging to her.
I feel sort of numb. Am on the computer now as it’s a time killer. Going to bed soon with nothing planned for tomorrow and no time set to get up.
If you say I am depressed, I know what depression feels like from years ago and I just don’t feel that is what I am experiencing.
Can any of you give me some feedback as to what I am experiencing?
Most appreciative.
Not sure what I am throwing into the discussion is exactly the wavelength you were on…
Marilyn in Ohio