by Solange Lopes | Sep 23, 2014 | Career |
Feminism – Photo credit: pinterest.com
I’m a feminist. So are Beyonce and Emma Watson. And really, if you want my opinion (that I’ll go ahead and give you anyways), Frozen‘s Elsa, despite all the anti-feminist critique heaped on the poor Disney girl, is also a feminist in my book. Except as much imaginary swag as I may have in common with Queen Bey (please refrain from giggling), or equally imaginary magical powers with Emma or Elsa (keep refraining), I also have this thing called…a J-O-B.
And it’s not like I can just ice my way out of my cubicle like Elsa, and go on and do me (which technically, with a substantial supply of Ramen noodles – preferably shrimp flavor- would be possible). Or stay “On the Run” without Bey and Jay’s astronomical paycheck, entourage, yacht vacations, etc…I could extend an invite to all the professional men out there to assume their sensitive side and join the feminist ranks like Emma, but the fluctuations in testosterone levels may prove a challenge.
So what are professional women, mere mortals reporting to Cubicle World every day, to do to be feminist and happy in their current careers? How could we even walk into our male-dominated, hierarchically traditional workplaces, with our feminist bravado and not be deflated like cheap water-filled balloons the minute we swipe our badges at the door? Considering the US had an even lower participation of women in the workforce than Europe in 2013, what presence or influence does a regular Jane Blow even have to push any type of women-oriented, let alone feminist agenda, at work? And with only 7% of visible minorities in management positions, the question is even more dawning for Black women at work.
Theoretically, being a feminist woman at work just sounds like an oxymoron, and not even a
Beyonce Feminist banner – Photo credit: http://womenaresociety.tumblr.com
cutesy, play-on-word one at that. But theoretically, I also have swag like Bey and magical powers like Emma…Realistically, we may not be able to give brilliant speeches in front of a United Nations audience, or perform the heck out of Bey’s songs in front of a lit-up “Feminist” banner.
Yet what we can do is show up in our own lives and be excellent. Not good, not average, but kick-ass! We can learn, re-learn and out-learn our trades. We can motivate other women to kick ass, and not take “no” for an answer. We can be the best version of ourselves, even when our voices are not heard. And to make ourselves heard, we can pinch our forearms, move to the front of the room and ask the same question our boss was going to ask, except we thought it was a stupid question and he thought we couldn’t have thought about it in the first place.
We can swipe our badges at the door, and refuse to be deflated like water-filled balloons every time someone else takes our opportunity. And instead, work better, smarter, stronger, on our own terms. We can start telling our stories, and giving value to our experience. And even when it looks like our efforts are but a drop in the ocean, we’ll still feel a little warm tingling somewhere in the space between our heads and hearts.
I guess in our overachieving, never-enough kind of minds, that would equate to being happy…Or at least getting there…
And Emma, I have to say, of all the magic tricks in Harry Potter, your speech to the UN is one of the most magical things I’ve ever heard. So much so I may need to hear it again:
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 22, 2014 | Career
The Good Wife – Photo credit: tvrage.com
Soooo I’m not the only one to be super excited about the Fall TV lineup of power career women. My couch and I gladly welcomed The Good Wife back yesterday, while I curiously checked out (and loved) Tea Leoni in Madam Secretary. Seeing women, and Black women like myself, take center stage as proud, ambitious, no-nonsense power women just makes me warm all over.
Yet as I was watching The Good Wife’s Alicia and Diane talk about creating the largest law firm ever led by women last night (and happily giggling at the thought from under my covers), I started wondering how much TV career women influence our own, mortal careers? Do we just look at them as these impossibly successful creatures, or do we actually believe we can work up to careers like theirs?
My $0.05: Every time we can watch, hear or witness outstanding women, it’s a win for everyone! Personally, they make me dream, and since I believe dreams do become reality, I’d say yes, keep showing us more successful, kick-ass women!
What do you think? Answer our short poll below…
[polldaddy poll=8324280]
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 22, 2014 | Career
Boat neck color block sheath dress – $150 – bloomingdales.com
Loving this stylish take on the traditional sheath dress! This Lauren Ralph Lauren sheath dress boasts a flattering boat neckline an original faux-leather trim for a modern yet classic silhouette.
The dark waist band is extremely flattering (and lunch forgiving), while the contrast of vanilla and dark colors make for a streamlined, clean shape. I’d pair this dress with minimal jewelry, and classic black or nude pumps. This dress is $150 at Bloomingdales.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 22, 2014 | Career
If you were even so much as passing by on social medial last week, you would have heard about the (absurdly) incendiary New York Times article, depicting writer Shonda Rhimes as “an angry black woman”. And if you stayed long enough, you may have enjoyed some of the boomerang responses from the media, such as this one, and this one, oh and this one too!
As a Black woman, a professional, and a huge admirer or Ms. Rhimes, of course I went through the initial stages of “No, she didn’t”, and “What? ooh….”, all accompanied by regular eyebrow-raising motions and a few upwards glances for mercy every now and then. And like most women, Black or of of any other race, who read this piece, I also quickly understood this article was not just about Shonda Rhimes.
According to the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, women accounted for “57.2 percent of the working age women population in 2013, compared to 69.7 percent participation for men. And although the number of women is expected to increase, women are projected to represent only 46.8% of the labor force in 2022. That’s less than 50%!
When a woman makes a significant contribution through her work, it uplifts all of us, regardless of race. It gives little Black, White, Asian and multi-cultural girls something to look forward to.
Do you think little girls with a passion for music walk around wondering if Alicia Keys is more Black than White? I have yet to hear a toddler comment on Doc McStuffins, by saying “Oh she’s cool, but she’s Black”. And if it ever happened, they would have probably heard it from the mouth of an adult. Because what does it matter, really, the color that Excellence, Talent or Achievement comes clothed in?
Yes, I’m not oblivious to the fact that race matters, for having experienced it first-hand, in and out of work environments. Yet what matters most is the legacy we leave behind, the rock we add to the structure of women’s, all women’s rights.
As women at work, whatever our careers, calling or line of work, don’t we face enough obstacles as it is? Aren’t we plagued by enough stereotypes to add to the dimension of our struggle?
And most importantly, haven’t we realized yet that when we criticize, demean or belittle other women, we hurt all women, ourselves included?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Sep 21, 2014 | Career, Find Your Purpose
Faith – Photo credit: beliefnet.com
Happy Sunday!
For the longest time, I avoided using the F-word at work. Not that F-word, the other one. As a matter of fact, even thinking about it at work would seem strange. And before you start even thinking we’re diving into some kind of religious tangent, let me clarify I am speaking about Faith, not religion.
All throughout my career, I’ve questioned myself about what Faith meant to my career, or even if the two should be acquainted in any manner. What does it matter to our careers that we even believe in anything? How could the wide subjectivity, breadth and intangibility of Faith even affect the very tangible, very concrete (albeit often illogical) world of work? And as much as most belief systems emphasize the value of work, does this make them intrinsically linked to our careers? Does Faith even belong in our careers? Is it better to keep Faith and work separate, or could Faith actually enhance our careers?
After trying both approaches, I would argue the latter. While I tended to restrict my Faith only to certain specific, secluded activities (usually reserved to hurried Sunday mornings), as I started applying the same Faith to my work, I noticed it…worked. I noticed speaking Life and blessings onto my day job did bring jus that. That thanking God for the favor I didn’t have yet, the positive results I had yet to obtain, produced those same results, and even better. Was it magic, wishful thinking or excess coffee? No, and neither was it religious infatuation. It was simply believing in the things that are not seen, the strength within, the power within. It was inquiring within…
So what’s Faith gotta do with it? More than we may think…Because embarking on days filled to the brim with to-do’s, meetings, and performance expectations without enough spiritual or mental preparation doesn’t work. Neither does failing to envision, speak and manifest our dreams, inspiration and calling. Because not believing you can, is failing before even starting.
And because Faith, as strange as it may seem, has got everything to do with it…
The Corporate Sis.
