The Sunday Mail
Life Issues
with FGK
As we introduce areas of life which are surrounded by issues; this area of women in business and leadership is one of the hottest topics that we are going to be dealing with. There are a lot of things that are said to women when they assume leadership positions or when they are running a successful enterprise.
Men tend to use misogyny and alienate them from the bracket of ‘real women’. Women in business and leadership are often looked at with a stained view and they appear to be a symbol of disgrace instead of glory. Is it because that they do not pay attention to the traditional chores and roles stipulated to them by society? Even if they wanted to; time and their busy schedules won’t allow them.
Does this then strip them of their real value as women? Is society then not supposed to celebrate them for being unique and exhibiting stronger virtues which are naturally attributed to masculinity?
The role of women in the patriarchal society was that of a helper to her husband.
This means that she had to be there for her husband helping with things that the husband could not do by themselves, things like cooking, washing clothes, ironing, carrying pregnancy and looking after children etc.
These roles became the measurement by which a girl child is trained into womanhood.
They need to do well in these chores so that they get acceptance in society to fit within the bracket of real women or housewives.
In the 21st century, the economic tides have seen the roles shifting and women have extended their help to cover even areas of provision for the family.
This means that women have widened their view on life and have spread their imaginations further beyond being mere helpers within the house but leaders outside the house, leaders in industry and politics. Women have developed their intellectual stamina over the years and can now assume the helms of big organisations, like banks, hospitals and even lead countries as heads of states.
The way women are being raised these days has contributed immensely on the success of many women.
There has been a lot of encouragement from mothers, aunties, grandmas and female teachers and mentors to educate and equip the girl child for the world.
Many have worked hard and are independent women who have climbed up the ranks in the corporate world and several others have grabbed top jobs from men.
Women are naturally a strong species altogether. When the bible refers to them as weaker vessels (1Peter 3 v 7) it does not refer to them as being lazy or possessing a weaker intellect and ability, but it refers to their emotional make up because they are easily broken down emotionally. Women tend to be led by emotions most of the times than men.
This weakness also has its own pros and cons but today let’s focus on plus factors. When it comes to intellectual abilities and diligence it has been proven to us that women are also even more capable of executing similar tasks that were traditionally attributed to men. We have women who are flying planes, women who are leading engineers, top bankers and well versed in mining acumen.
Women have exhibited a certain level of order in the business arena that is astounding.
That is why you find most top managers and directors prefer a woman to be their secretary or aide because women have this orderly touch and diligence to whatever they do. They are strong in managing a lot of tasks simultaneously and accomplishing them in one goal.
A woman who goes to work can wake up before sunrise and prepare children for school, prepare the husband for work and upon coming back from work they make sure the family is fed and everything is in order before they take to sleep. These are virtues of character and no wonder when they go to work they also tend to outperform men who are at the same level with them.
The same order they put around the house is the same order they transmute and apply into business and leadership. This has found many women rise to influential positions around the globe across various disciplines.
However, these abilities that women have exhibited in the corporate world and politics have also imparted an ego into most women such that they are experiencing problems that have paralysed their relationships with men and society is casting a negative conjuration at the successful women.
To a greater extent it’s true that most women neglect their relationships when they get elevated at work.
Instead of having a mother around the house, we now have a manager or chief executive officer bossing around the house.
The reason why most women in business and leadership are looked at with contempt is because most women who are at the top have neglected their fundamental roles within their homes and in relationships.
Unlike men, women have a tendency of enforcing their authority wherever they are regardless of limits of their jurisdiction. When a wife can bring home more bacon and bread than the husband then they lose respect for the man of the house. Men were created as providers for the family and the moment these roles are switched off or swapped then the order of things is thrown off and the relationship is out of sync.
Men feel it when they are not esteemed within the house as providers even though they might not blubber about it; but in one way or the other their affection for the woman is reduced and they will act like they are dealing with another man. When that happens, the woman will feel as if the man’s ego has blocked her way to happiness and the next thing will be divorce. That is why most women who are in leadership positions either in business, religious circles or politics have suffocating marriages.
Women in business and leadership are real women who can also be like our everyday housewives but the demands of leadership do not allow them to put up with traditional chores and tasks. This does not strip their womanhood off. The problem only comes when they cease to treat men with the respect they deserve. Men hate to be undermined and any threat to their confidence is quickly highlighted as an intimidation.
Therefore, most women who are in leadership positions have failed to maintain a healthy marital life because it seems as if their success has overtaken their need for masculine figures in their lives.
Men, as protectors and providers tend to be useless when the woman flaunts enough security and provision that her money provides.
This is an error that should be corrected. No matter how high you climb the ladder, always remember to remain a woman to your husband. Show him you need his provision and protection regardless of your abilities to do so by yourself.
