F*ck the glass ceiling
July 28, 2008 by Colleen Coplick
Filed under Social Media
Seriously. We live in a world where women outnumber men in industries like public relations, marketing and even social media. Yes, there’s lots of great men in social media, but there’s a gazillion women.
We’ve, at least in my opinion, pretty much leveled the playing field for any woman who wants to get out there and actually play. Sure, it might mean you get your hands dirty or break a nail (and yes, I am using sexist metaphors on purpose), but hell, that’s what soap and manicurists are for.
I am a woman who knows how to promote myself, how to ask for things and how to get people do help me do those things, and am usually thanked for the opportunity to help me when it’s all said and done. Sometimes, I use traditional "old fashioned" methods like the telephone (and a land line at that! gasp!) or email, and sometimes I use the new-fangled technology. No matter which way I go about it, the worst thing that’s going to happen in that moment is that the person I’m talking to will say "no". Doesn’t mean I’m a horrible person or that I am an idiot for asking. It means that, for whatever reason, the other person can’t accommodate me.
I got into a discussion about this very thing with @MissRogue and @Aruni one day over Twitter, and I just got frustrated. A few other people feebly joined the conversation and said they didn’t understand how we could be so strong and passionate about what we do and that they envied our ability to be that strong, capable, passionate woman. They claimed they could never be as "brave" as we are.
It’s not about brave.
Lemme give you a minute to let that sink in.
It’s not about BRAVE.
It’s about smart, which we all are; it’s about confidence, which we all need to find (it’s there, and it’s been there all along, you just have to find it), and it’s about learning how to take "no" for an answer and then don’t stop asking until you get a yes!
I think every woman should be able to be as successful as they want to be in business, however that looks to them. I think that no woman should ever bemoan the fact that the world is run by an "old boy’s club". You know what? 50 years ago, that might have been the case, but guess what? All those "Old Boys" are all sitting around in retirement, in their private clubs and congratulating each other on past victories, while you’re out there, getting things done, making things happen and living your life. They don’t affect you unless you let them.
There is no try, there is only do. There’s no such thing as willpower – you either do something or you don’t, but you make that choice to do or not do, consciously.
So get out there, take the bull by the horns, throw stones at people living in glass houses and break their ceilings. (How many other metaphors can I throw in there?)
/steps off soapbox. @Aruni, upon hearing this rant, told me I need to write a book. I haven’t talked to her about it in a while because I’ve been too busy writing the book proposal. @Aruni, it’s in the works baby!!
You’re really cute when you get all worked up like that! Me likey!
Rock on!
There are different kinds of “glass ceilings.” I work with a bunch of health care providers who think if you aren’t a “doctor” you’re nothing, even though I have an MBA and a PhD. But I’m not going to let that stop me from doing what I want and being what I can be.
Charles Swindoll said, “it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you think about it.”
No matter what kind of obstacles you find, you have 2 choices (a)work through them, directly, (b) work around them, by moving on/leaving/finding someplace else to be, something else to do.
The site is undergoing construction to be released in maybe 24 hours – I liked the well written article and it might have been written for me
A piece of good advice for someone stuck in the rut of a Family Servant. So in the spirit of the Title – F**k families – give me my friends – I love ‘em to pieces
Patricia aka Patti
And this is why I’m having your babies.
Colleen, awesomeness! And picture me already standing in line for your book!
Maybe because I grew up with three brothers; or maybe because I took Proverbs 31 to heart; or maybe just because I’m too stubborn to think any differently–whatever the reason, I’ve always felt that the only thing standing between me and my dreams is *me*.
Interesting side note: I’ve actually visited a business that had a literal glass ceiling. It was a stained glass company, & they offered me a job. But I said no–I was too busy going after my dreams. :-)
Real good point of view made in this blog. I can support what is being said here, but having worked for women in an all women department for over 30 years I have experience to know that just saying I support the breaking of the glass ceiling perception women have in business would only start a lose-lose debate. I will agree that the good ol boy regime is over and has been for many years now..I am living proof of that, so I again agree, it is up to the person to succeed in their profession and not show focus or blame on something that is now ancient history.
Ahh! There is no try, there is just do! You are spot on and I used this same phrase yesterday at work.
Who are you on twitter?
Colleen, I’ve only read a few of your blog posts but I’m in love! I completely agree and have witnessed this firsthand in many meetings, men state their opinion with stonecold conviction and women discredit even the most genius ideas by starting with “I was just thinking that maybe…now this might be totally off…” etc etc. Any woman that thinks she’s being held back and gets ready to point fingers needs to take a good look in the mirror, as the culprit may be her!
Hmm… My head is just chock full of replies.
First of all, I so love this piece. It’s terrific.
Second, I think that the word ‘brave’ can also mean ‘fearless’ – and I do think there’s something to that. Fear is what holds people back and I think women are especially fearful of failure for lots of reasons, not the least of which is concern about family. It’s much easier to take risks when you’re only risking your own self.
Third, I agree that you are largely responsible for your own destiny. But that doesn’t translate into the Old Boys Clubs packing up and leaving – they are still very much alive in traditional fields. I’m in the legal profession and I have been beat down a number of times for being female (a female tax attorney, at that). Yes, there are work arounds – I’ve done it – but there is a cost. In the legal profession, more than 50% of those that graduate from law school are female and yet less than 20% make partner. That’s not all because of attitude. There are still real barriers to success in the profession – and in others.
Again, I love this piece because I think there’s a lot of truth to it. But don’t disregard the real challenges in the workplace that women still face. They exist.