This post is an excerpt from my response to Jessie’s Paul’s blog.
I am happy that the Women’s Bill that has been passed. Politics and governance in a country like India require a different approach. Tough measures are required to restore balance. But it is not required for Corporate India to follow suit. Here, it is all about performance and delivering results. Experience, talent, skills, qualification should get you the job and not the gender.
Reservations and policies based on gender (or any bias) need to be examined carefully before being rolled out.
“Women-friendly” policies are great to have (and are politically correct :-) ). However, in today’s age and times, when men are chipping in more and more on the home front, it just does not seem fair for women to be claiming all the special rights. Men do as much – attending the PTA, cooking, going to the bank and baby-sitting.
To the simple and practical steps that Jessie has listed for working women to exude a positive image, I have added some more:
a) Focus on delivering results for whatever you are responsible. When you deliver, recognition will follow.
b) Leave your fair sex image at home. At office, you are simply an employee – gender neutral !.
c) By way of make-up, titillating clothes, fancy footwear, jewelry and doing the catwalk in corporate corridors, you are sending wrong signals. Not required. Be smart. Dress well. Not to attract, but to evoke respect.
d) You don’t always have to move in girl-gangs during lunch/free time and exchange recipes. Have healthy, robust discussions with your male colleagues. Partner with them on new initiatives.
e) Why is it that a lot of women don’t discuss current affairs, soccer, cricket, golf, tennis, Formula One, global economy or the stock market? Keep yourselves updated and have intelligent conversations with your colleagues. It will add to your brand image.
f) And finally, women are special. But NEVER expect special treatment, just because you are a woman. Earn it.
Read more on Jessie's post- "Exec branding - It's different for women (I think)" - http://bit.ly/aXpA6v
Going back to the original question, is a women’s reservation policy required in the corporate world. I don’t think so. May the best man/woman bag the job!
I am happy that the Women’s Bill that has been passed. Politics and governance in a country like India require a different approach. Tough measures are required to restore balance. But it is not required for Corporate India to follow suit. Here, it is all about performance and delivering results. Experience, talent, skills, qualification should get you the job and not the gender.
Reservations and policies based on gender (or any bias) need to be examined carefully before being rolled out.
“Women-friendly” policies are great to have (and are politically correct :-) ). However, in today’s age and times, when men are chipping in more and more on the home front, it just does not seem fair for women to be claiming all the special rights. Men do as much – attending the PTA, cooking, going to the bank and baby-sitting.
To the simple and practical steps that Jessie has listed for working women to exude a positive image, I have added some more:
a) Focus on delivering results for whatever you are responsible. When you deliver, recognition will follow.
b) Leave your fair sex image at home. At office, you are simply an employee – gender neutral !.
c) By way of make-up, titillating clothes, fancy footwear, jewelry and doing the catwalk in corporate corridors, you are sending wrong signals. Not required. Be smart. Dress well. Not to attract, but to evoke respect.
d) You don’t always have to move in girl-gangs during lunch/free time and exchange recipes. Have healthy, robust discussions with your male colleagues. Partner with them on new initiatives.
e) Why is it that a lot of women don’t discuss current affairs, soccer, cricket, golf, tennis, Formula One, global economy or the stock market? Keep yourselves updated and have intelligent conversations with your colleagues. It will add to your brand image.
f) And finally, women are special. But NEVER expect special treatment, just because you are a woman. Earn it.
Read more on Jessie's post- "Exec branding - It's different for women (I think)" - http://bit.ly/aXpA6v
Going back to the original question, is a women’s reservation policy required in the corporate world. I don’t think so. May the best man/woman bag the job!
This response was to Ms Jessie Paul's blog - and I entirely agree that there should be no kind of reservation for women in any forum - unless men start to give birth then they will be equal to women :)and then there is no reservation required!
ReplyDeletehere it goes ...
Anonymous said...
Why not feminine problems - does being a professional mean I have to deny the three days that I writhe in pain with cramps or nearly faint due to heavy bleeding especially now that I am menopausal?
I believe that the truly professional HR would grant a discretionary day off to all women employees... and I see that will happen in a truly women oriented organization
Here's what I would invite you to imagine - a true professional who does not need to bob her hair into a supermodel a la vogue look, nor wear blazers and pants, and looks presentable in whatever outfit she is traditionally conditioned or comfortable in- that would include large bindis, and jhumkas...and sarees...and can conduct herself with the power and wisdom of one who CAN do, be and lead.
Why not feminine problems - does being a professional mean I have to deny the three days that I writhe in pain with cramps or nearly faint due to heavy bleeding especially now that Im menopausal?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the truly professional HR would grant a discretionary day off to all women employees... and I see that will happen in a truly women oriented organization
Here's what I would invite you to imagine - a true professional who does not need to bob her hair into a supermodel a la vogue look, nor wear blazers and pants, and looks presentable in whatever outfit she is traditionally conditioned or comfortable in- that would include large bindis, and jhumkas...and sarees...and can conduct herself with the power and wisdom of one who CAN do, be and lead.