There is no denying that the role of women in society has changed enormously in the past 50 years. Worldwide, women are not only enjoying satisfying careers, some of them are out-earning men. Despite these tremendous advances, women still face a variety of professional challenges, particularly in traditionally male-dominated careers such as management and other technically oriented roles. Recognising these challenges can help overcome them.

• The work-life balance: The drive to do it all and do it well is a uniquely female trait. According to the European Labour Relations Observatory, many women find balancing the responsibilities of their chosen profession with the traditionally female-oriented duties required at home challenging. Finding the time to grocery shop, clean house, do laundry and cook dinner — never mind taking care of the kids — is difficult even when that is the only job you have. Add a demanding boss, deadlines and ambition to succeed, and you have a recipe for anxiety that causes many women to feel overwhelmed and guilty.

• Health issues: According to studies, women are also more prone to certain types of work-related health issues. Women who work have higher instances of carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis, in addition to a higher rate of respiratory illnesses and infectious and parasitic diseases, according to reports. Mental health is an area of concern as well; women have higher rates of stress and anxiety disorders because of concerns over balancing a heavy workload with the demands of family. Sexual harassment also is a noted stressor.

• Leadership and the glass ceiling: Despite the number of degrees that women earn and the number of women in the workplace, there is a dearth of women who rise to top leadership roles. The career website Monster.com reports that the difficulty women face in breaking what is commonly referred to as the ‘glass ceiling’ often is attributed to management’s concern that an otherwise qualified woman will leave work to have a baby or focus on family issues. However, it could also reflect a woman’s conscious desire to avoid high-risk, high-profile and high-paying roles.

• Discrimination and pay: Many women feel that these gender-based decisions result from discrimination. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, as quoted on Monster.com, women earn approximately 80 cents for every dollar that a man earns performing the same role. Women are also more likely to become victims of sexual harassment, which is difficult to prove and embarrassing to report. Worldwide, women are still victimised by outdated gender attitudes.

Published on: 15 September 2013 | The Himalayan Times