Interesting article about gender differences in leadership

[Miss Tequila]

May 10, 2017 11:58:01 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

At my company, there have been conversations at our yearly "state of the business" meetings about getting more women into upper management and executive roles. Often those roles require a certain level of education and experience - so you're looking at people in the 30+ year old range. They also typically require frequent travel - sometimes for weeks at a time and at short notice. They also typically require long hours at the office/answering emails 24/7. If these 30-something or older women had school aged children, they might not want to take on a job that would keep them away from their kids/spouse. Sure some women do take these jobs, but it's still more prevalent and accepted for a man to take on these roles.

I think a lot of women realize that to be upper management and above there are sacrifices they will have to make, and they don't wish to make them. That doesn't make them bad leaders - it just means they have different priorities.

I have said that many of times. I have worked with many women who wanted a flex schedule, no travel once they had children but I do not ever remember a man wanting that. I was mommy-tracked for years because to me being their with my children meant so much more to me than making partner. Men had children and nothing changed for them workwise. People can say it is society's expectations but I think women are much more likely to want to be home with their children than men.  I know my ex didn't give it a thought when he went back to work after we had our children. I cried....and I only worked part-time! I get that not all moms are like that but from my experience the moms are much more likely to be like that then the dads.

[MJ2.0]

I think it's societal expectations stemming from our biological/anthropological roots. The men hunted and gathered while women tended to the children and household tasks. Men were the "getters" and women were the "carers". Over 20,000 or so years later and we are only recently starting to see a little shift in that dynamic.

I didn't cry when I went back to work, but the Mom Guilt Monster was real.

[Miss Tequila]

May 10, 2017 14:56:30 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I think it's societal expectations stemming from our biological/anthropological roots. The men hunted and gathered while women tended to the children and household tasks. Men were the "getters" and women were the "carers". Over 20,000 or so years later and we are only recently starting to see a little shift in that dynamic.

I didn't cry when I went back to work, but the Mom Guilt Monster was real.

Exactly. I wanted to be home with the babies. Not because society said I should be but because I wanted to be.  My ex didn't have that same draw to be with the kids. I remember a few women crying at work on their first day back because they wanted to be home with the babies. I dont' ever remember a man crying over that!lol

Not saying that this should impact a woman who does want to leave the kids and go traveling, put in the long hours, etc., but it could very well be part of why there are more men at the top versus women.