Read a quick blog post by the State Department to get started on something that I find not only frustrating, but somewhat intimidating as I go through the FSO recruitment process: Women Retention Problem in State Dept.
Hilary Clinton. Photo Credit Unknown.
What does this mean to me as a woman? I am driven, intelligent, collaborative, quick to learn new languages ... yet I am sensitive to my environment, and despise sexism and harassment that meets me so often in the workplace and in general. This article was a reality check for me: the most intelligent and policy savvy women (Yeah, I just used savvy!) are exiting my dream job. Why?
Mixed information, but I'm sure it boils down to an inhospitable environment coupled with larger ambitions. Also, I think it lies in the mobility of workers in this age: government jobs are no longer so sacred that they are coveted 'til death or retirement hits. I'm not going to run numbers or frantically cross check. (Frankly, it's too late and I've done too much other research today.) But I will rely on the oft-quoted statistic that young professionals of today will have at least 5 jobs or careers in their working lifetime. -- I am, in fact, wayyyyy ahead on this figure... -- So, I would guess that other interests (Guess what? People today are likely to have at least 5 separate and diverse interests. A figure that I'm sure covers at least 88.7903% of people in the U.S. Probably the world.) present other opportunities in areas that women that are in the State Department are likely to pursue. This could mean a promotion, a job change, or a complete career switch.
Now, why don't men change as frequently from secure foreign policy jobs? In my own experience, I find that men are saddled with more social norms and responsibilities in the career area. They feel that they must be single-minded in pursuing a career and a salary. That is equated in the non-sports-world with power, strength and virility. Perhaps, they live off the adrenaline of a high-powered profession that requires a lack of emotional response (something men are trained to do from infancy far more than women).
Whatever the reason for less women being in this career, I am sure that societal mores and gender roles play a hand in it, although I'm inclined to believe it is less insidious than one might originally suspect.
Who has a thought on women in the workplace? Especially powerful policy positions?
have you read the recent Atlantic artice "why women still can't have it all"? it's really interesting and honest. i've been thinking a LOT about women exiting the workplace--women who are in leadership roles and are passionate about their careers--as i have seen it quite frequently lately at our firm. here's a link to a post i did that has the article mentioned above and a talk that Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg gave on the topic of keeping women in the workforce until they are actually ready to leave. http://leanerbythelake.com/?p=14163
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