Do Women at Work Need More Realistic Role Models?

by Solange Lopes | May 28, 2014 | Career

Happy Hump Day!
It’s the middle of the week, and for many of us, as we’re barely getting over this week’s hump, we’re also (unfortunately) barely getting over the hump in our careers. Many of us feel “stuck”, so far off from their goals or dreams, unfulfilled, dissatisfied, or just plain sick and tired of being sick and tired of our jobs and careers.
And while there is all this talk about “leaning in”, women’s empowerment, and career success, all we tend to see at the top of the corporate game are really the select few, the career vets, the Arianna Huffington’s, Ursula Burns, and Oprah’s of this world. As inspiring as these extraordinary women may be, frankly, it’s still quite hard for me to relate to the Indra Nooyi’s of this world as I’m rushing to work in the morning, half-swallowing my breakfast as I mentally prepare to ask my boss for yet another flexible time arrangement to take my car to the shop.
And yes, as convincing as all the success testimonies may be out there from the very few women who’ve made it to the corporate mountaintop, it also looks like many of these women have dedicated their lives (and families?) to their career. In the era of the highly educated, highly indebted, minimalist and non-conformist millenial, the paths that many of these influential women have taken years ago no longer apply to us. And even if the message remains in essence the same, the ways of conveying and illustrating it are sorely lacking in realism for many of us.
Don’t get me wrong, women would not be where we are today, hadn’t it been for the exemplary work, sacrifice and dedication of many, including these same icons of corporate success we aspire to emulate. However, the economic, political and social context has so drastically changed that it has become imperative to not only provide a more diverse and realistic voice to our generation of professional women, but also to widen the pool of women representing us to include women from all professional stations, not just those sitting at the top.
Because in order to address the concerns of the administrative assistant with 3 children who is going back to school and shopping for health-care for her children, we need to give her a face and a voice. In order to respond to the needs of the senior accountant stuck in a mid-level position with limited hope and resources to advance, we need to hear from her.
Do you think we need more realistic role models?

The Corporate Sister.