Last week I listened to Episode 48 0f “Hidden Brain,” a podcast that regularly appears on NPR, and you should too, especially to this podcast on the catch-22 that most strong women face when they hope to be leaders.
With all the controversy surrounding the presidential election, there’s something a lot more basic than the philosophical differences between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Me, I think a lot of the subtext is the super-alpha male versus a very strong woman (super-alpha woman?).
Being a business owner, I’m aware of the biases that woman have to face. We (women, the “fair sex”) are supposed to be kind, diplomatic, warm, gracious. We are expected to be able to use our feminine wiles to get what we want, to manipulate the situation when we deal with men. We’re supposed to flirt. To be “nice.” What a bunch of bull.
Ask any female who runs a business or who is perceived as a leader in her field: “nice” is often perceived as weak. By men, Weak, in the business world, is not a good quality. And if we are feminine leaders, not acting like the guy’s girl who can drink and carouse with boys on their level (this attitude is prevalent when you have what’s known as the good ol’ boys’ network), well you are certainly seen as not serious. Weak, that is.
Women—at least in this country—are not perceived, for the most part, as being leaders. Are you aware that only one in five legislators in the US Congress is female? That only one in 20 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies is a woman? That’s telling.
This bias, in itself, I believe, is a huge hurdle faced by the first female candidate for the public office of POTUS. It’s a real problem for any woman who wants to lead
There are cultural and societal biases that are influencing this election, and have a profound impact on all women’s functioning in any leadership position. I have personally experienced this in many years of running a business. I know this sounds cliché, but gentlemen, please understand: it is what it is. Most women who aspire to leadership have to accept the fact that they are going to be called a “bitch” or in the case of Mr. Trump, a “nasty woman.” We alpha broads know that it comes with the territory. We certainly don’t like it, but it’s something that we have do unfortunately deal with.
We often talk amongst our staff about women in music vis a vis OffBeat editorial: who we can interview, who should be on our covers. Music is, for the most part, a guy thing. So I’m very happy that the 10th anniversary of LadyFest is occurring this November. It was started by musical women who sometimes feel as though they’re not getting the attention they deserve as musical artists. Good for them. The first LadyFest event is this Saturday at the Louisiana Music Factory, when Roselyn Lionhart (of David and Roselyn) hosts Lilli Lewis, Venessa “VeeJay” Williams, Kim Roberts and Joy Clark. Events take place at venues all over town through November 6, with a parade starting at the 9th Ward Juke Joint at 5443 Douglas Street to cap off the event this year. For more information see the ad in this month’s print edition of OffBeat, or go to www.LadyFestNOLA.com.
You go, girls.
Do you think there will ever be a female mayor of New Orleans? Take our poll and get a chance to win tickets to see TAUK + Naughty Professor at the Howlin’ Wolf on November 12.
