Five Struggles You’ll Face as a Female Professional (And How to Face Them)

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In honor of International Women’s Day today, I wanted to shed some light on some of the issues that women face while advancing their career, in any industry. I have faced many of these struggles myself, but I wasn’t always so sure how to deal with them. 

Whether you’re a fellow female or nonbinary professional that faces these struggles, or a male professional that is looking to support more of your fellow coworkers, here are just a few of the struggles women face in the workplace, and how to deal with them.

1. The “double bind”.

In a 2019 interview with the New York Times, Katherine Phillips discusses the “double bind” that working women face:

If they’re perceived as nice and warm and nurturing, as they’re expected to be, they don’t show what it takes to move into a leadership position. But when they take charge to get things done, they’re often seen as angrier or more aggressive than men. It’s like a tightrope women are asked to walk: Veer just a bit one way or the other, and they may fall off.

Although the double bind appears in other aspects of a woman’s career, such as asking for a raise (more on that below), this specific example rings true in leadership. It starts at a young age, too. Young girls that are assertive are seen as “bossy”, while young boys that display the same behaviors are seen as “future leaders”. The result is that female leaders are either seen as competent or likeable, but never both.

How to deal: Be an advocate for other women’s advancement in their own careers. Speak up against words or phrases in the workplace that bolster the bias. In my personal opinion, things like “she’s so emotional” or “she’s very abrasive” require responses like “By ‘emotional’ you must mean ‘passionate’” or “I think ‘assertive’ is a better word.” Also, make sure to celebrate the successes of other women in the workplace. Build (or find) a strong community of women that actively advocate for each other!

2. Experiencing burnout.

“Burnout” is a syndrome related to a lack of motivation and feelings of hopelessness. It’s linked to work-related stress by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Although men work more hours each week on average, women are actually more likely to experience burnout. This is in part due to the frustration that comes from being less likely to be given positions of power.

Burnout can have some damaging effects not only on a woman’s mental health, but also her career. With more women experiencing this syndrome, this means there are more women that choose to change careers and start all over, making it even more difficult to advance their career.

How to deal: Practice self-care and other stress-management activities to prevent bringing work home as much as possible—at least the bad parts. Prioritize yourself in your free time whenever you can. 

At the same time, it’s important to recognize when enough is enough. Sharpen your skills and start looking for new opportunities with employers that celebrate women and provide a better work-life balance.

3. Being paid less money for the same work.

Not only are women still getting passed up for promotions more than men, they are still being paid less than their male counterparts that do the same work. It’s 2020 and studies still show that the gender wage gap is still a very real thing, but why?

The answer lies in the double bind we talked about earlier. When negotiating salary, women that ask for more experience social consequences. Less people are willing to be on their team. This doesn’t ring true for men, and it’s why many women just accept what they’re offered rather than negotiating a higher salary.

How to deal: Ask. For. The. Raise. Supporting yourself and knowing your worth is so much more important than being accepted by biased coworkers. Along the same vein, be sure you’re not also practicing this bias; encourage and advocate for your female counterparts that negotiate better pay. As women, we need to work together and do what we can to shrink the gender pay gap.

4. Not having a female mentor.

One thing I regret when I began my career in marketing was not looking for a female mentor sooner. With more men in power than women, it can be tricky to find a strong female mentor that knows you and your goals and will push you to reach them. Although there is nothing wrong with having a mentor in your career who is male, it can be challenging for men to fully understand the struggles that you face as a woman.

How to deal: Freda Lewis-Hall, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Pfizer, advises building a “board of directors” for your career. Here is what this board consists of:

1. Mentors - who “know your heart” and can give you advice not just in your career, but in your personal life too.

2. Coaches - who “help you close specific gaps” in your skillset.

3. Sponsors - who will “put their name on the line for you” and advocate for you for new opportunities.

4. Role Models - who you may not have ever met, but still choose to emulate.

Prioritize networking with other female professionals—both within and outside of your industry—to build this “board of directors”. These roles can be filled by both men and women, and don’t need to be filled by those who “rank” higher than you in your career either!

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

5. Guilt about your work-life balance and having a family.

Women are still largely seen as caretakers in the household. Sure, we are typically more nurturing than men, but that doesn’t mean we should feel so guilty about working just as many hours (or less hours) than men do!

Men still experience guilt when they’re at work and away from their families or children, but our society doesn’t feed into this guilt with men the way they do with women. Women today are still asked to essentially choose between being a mom or having a successful career, and it doesn’t help that the US has one of the worst maternity leave policies in the world (with a grand total of zero weeks of paid maternity leave). 

How to deal: Samantha Walravens, author of Torn: True Stories of Kids, Career & the Conflict of Modern Motherhood, provides some tips in an article for Johnson & Johnson: Set clear boundaries between work and home, and make sure to communicate with your boss or your partner at home if you need help with something. Keep in mind that any time you’re prioritizing the needs of your family, there is no need to feel guilty. Also, don’t compare yourself to other women that you might think are “superwoman”. Instead, cheer her on and support her.

Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with these struggles is thinking you’re alone in fighting these battles. Keep in mind that other women and nonbinary professionals across the country deal with these issues every day. Seek out support from these other professionals by going to female-focused networking events and building a support system. You don’t have to face these issues alone!

Five Tips for Women Working in a Male-Dominated Field

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Photo by Ehimetalor Unuabona on Unsplash

In 2018, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research reported that male-dominated occupations have the tendency to pay more than women-dominated occupations. As it stands, more women work as nurses and teachers, and more men work as financial officers and engineers. However, a 2016 study shows that women’s job growth is highest in these male-dominated fields. This is great news, but women in transition to these industries will experience their own setbacks.

Catalyst lists some of these challenges for women working in a male-dominated workforce:

1. Being seen as a threat to the norm

2. Being seen as the “office housekeeper”

3. Having fewer mentoring opportunities

4. Having less of a voice

5. Experiencing a lack of support (both emotionally and financially)

6. Experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace

With all of these things stacked up against us working in a male-driven occupation, what can we possibly do? Here are a few tips that have helped me get by in a male-dominated industry.

Speak Up (A LOT)...

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the years I’ve worked in my current workplace, it’s that standing up for yourself and what you believe in is the most important thing you can do. Even if you feel you don’t have a voice in your company, you are in control of finding it. Remember that your insight is just as important as any of your other coworkers’. 

That’s not all, though; don’t be afraid of sounding harsh! Women that stand up for themselves are sometimes seen as “bossy”, whereas men that make the same moves aren’t. If you’re ever afraid of coming on too strong, just imagine what might happen if one of your male coworkers says the same thing. As you speak up and provide your honest opinion more and more, you will earn respect from the right people. 

...But Also, Listen

The best leaders are active listeners and learners. If you’re looking to earn respect and move up in your company, be sure to listen to what your coworkers have to say, especially those that have worked in your field for a long time. Those insights are crucial in helping you learn more, especially if you’re still new to the industry. Additionally, actively listening to some of the problems your coworkers or company is facing provides you with an opportunity to help brainstorm solutions. I’m a firm believer that collaboration—across all employee levels—breeds better work. 

Branch Out

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

If you’re anything like me, you may work better under a strong female leader or mentor. In fact, a recent study by Peakon shows that companies led by women have happier workforces. Even if your company doesn’t have a female leader or potential mentor for you, that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. Go to networking events in your community to meet and collaborate with other women in your field (or outside of your field). Mentors don’t always have to be part of the same workplace or industry as you. Look for someone that is where you’d like to be in the future, and see what you can learn from her. 

Learn to Brag

One of the biggest roadblocks I have faced in my current position hasn’t been an outside force at all—it has been myself. Especially earlier on in my career (and even today), I have struggled with my own self-confidence. As we’ve already covered: your insight is important! Don’t fall victim to imposter syndrome. One thing that has helped me get over this is learning to brag about myself. It sounds weird, but sometimes I practice by thinking to myself about all of the things I have been able to accomplish in my career. When you’re listing these accomplishments, remember that they’re YOUR accomplishments that YOU earned because YOU’RE awesome at what you do!

Think Like a Leader

Even if you’re still pursuing a leadership position at your company, you can still act as a great leader by engaging in high-level, thought-provoking conversations with your peers and leaders. Take the time to brainstorm new and creative solutions to problems that may even be outside of your typical area of supervision. I developed my company’s first marketing efforts when I was still working in customer service by taking the initiative to send out promotional email newsletters to our customers. Now, I’m leading the marketing efforts of four brands (and loving it way more than customer service). Step outside of your comfort zone to gain the attention of upper management. If you take a chance, they’ll be more likely to take a chance on you.

Catalyst reports that most women deal with a male-dominated workforce in one of three ways: keeping a distance from their colleagues, acting like “one of the boys”, or leaving the industry altogether. I hope that my tried-and-true tips help you move up in your industry without having to resort to one of those coping mechanisms. If it helps, remember that you’re working towards a more equal and inclusive workforce, and that’s really cool!