Realities of 'Leaning In'

[porsmork]

I'd be really curious to start a discussion about the realities and challenges women have faced when 'Leaning In' within their workplace.
What definition does 'Leaning In' have for you?
Has it worked with your employer- have you received what you asked for or become more fulfilled by the mindset?
Have you faced challenges around it from employers or colleagues? Anything you've tried that backfired or failed?

In my experience, I felt very determined after reading about the concept, and others like it, and feel very strongly that women have a right to be at the table and involved in all areas of business and professional life. However, upon acting upon some of the concepts, I actually found myself backing away more from professional life in order to seek a better balance between work and family.

Would be interested to hear what wisdom MN has on the matter.

Peaceout - exactly!

I said as much when workplaces were putting flexible provisions in place that allowed women to 'lean out' and didn't challenge that men should be doing this ... but was called anti-feminist so I shut up.

If women lean out of domestic work will men take up the slack?

HA HA HA HA!!! No. But they should be challenged for not doing so and potentially different policies could prod them to do so, instead of taking it as assumed that it's wimmin's work.

I think that getting to a tipping point (mentioned by a pp) with regards to the numbers of women in Senior positions may be crucial
When this happens the ability of men to subtlety undermine and suppress women should decline markedly

mmm except that it is a possibility that the system is such that mainly non-feminist women make it to these positions. Also, that is a chicken and egg to some degree vis a vis leaning in and the glass ceiling.

mainly non-feminist women make it to these positions

Indeed, while men are largely in charge of hiring and firing they will promote women who they perceive pose no threat to male hegemony.
Or even promote women they know aren't up to the job since this serves to reinforce existing prejudice that women are less competent than men😣

I agree Peaceout... sadly.

peaceout that is exactly what I see happening where I work. Sad really because it's big 4 and there are certain people putting a lot of effort in to help promote women. As a woman it's only certain women who will get promoted, those who don't challenge men.

The wifework is interesting. DH is senior and I make him do it. I've been slammed in recent months at work, not had a single day off so far this year. DH had to be told that me doing dishes at 1am, when I got home from work, isn't acceptable. We have 3DC and it's a lot of work. He will always try to do the bare minimum unless I remind him. It's this that puts me at a huge disadvantage to my peers.

PeaceOut I would have said the same previously, the promotion of a small number of women, often into very difficult positions, then set up to fail/overly criticized compared with men (see Glass Cliff research). But lately, we have so many women that have been parachuted in from elsewhere in management positions, plus a large number of younger women coming up from the ranks, that I do believe that some type of tipping point, where women are just considered employees and gender is not such a big deal, is being reached.

I'm not saying that issues such as childcare have been solved, higher end positions in top organizations will always favour those without caring responsibilities or those who outsource those to others, such as their spouse. I don't see that as something that the institution can do much about though, given we already have flexible working, ok maternity pay and so on.

The biggest impediment is still the men's attitudes! They have gone from being very dominant in our organization to having share very quickly and not all have adjusted well, but they are being forced to. Good.

They have gone from being very dominant in our organization to having share very quickly and not all have adjusted well, but they are being forced to

I bet that's fun to watch😁

peaceout yes, now I have my promotion:)

"I think that getting to a tipping point (mentioned by a pp) with regards to the numbers of women in Senior positions may be crucial"

It feels like that's the case on a lot of the BBC's factual output -often see a female anchor speaking to a female reporter/'subject head' now.

The fact I still notice it shows it's not an everyday occurence, unlike a male/male discussion, of course!

"mainly non-feminist women make it to these positions"

Maybe. There's an element of keeping your head down when more junior though - I'm certainly more open from my current senior position about leaving early for childcare or whatever, rather than 'oh, I can't do that timeslot'

mainly non-feminist women make it to these positions

Yes, but it is an achievement of feminism that men feel a need to have a female figurehead for their misogyny.

Also, it makes it easier for feminist women who keep their heads down to get there, too.

HelenDenver I have noticed these female/female news pieces as well and it gives me great pleasure to see it. As you say, my reaction goes to show how new/rare this is. Whatever her politics, I'm also deeply gratified that my daughter is growing up under a female prime minister, as I did. Having said that I do think Theresa May is s prime example of the male hegemony being happy for her to take the role at such an intensely difficult political time.

mainly non-feminist women make it to these positions

I've always thought that was a general rule when it comes to perception of women in power and explains why the two female prime ministers we've had have been conservative.

Someone who is left wing and a woman is of course far too feministy.

When it comes to media tropes you often get women in power who are absolute bitches and far more sexist than the benevolent male leader. It's as if the writers are saying "look women do it to".