Comments on: Gen Y women – out of the workplace woods? http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/ Engagement for the next generation Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:05:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Milena http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-71293 Milena Mon, 05 May 2008 14:03:06 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-71293 <i>“Being normal,” Hercules replied, “gets you a middle-class life in the suburbs. It’s fifth place, and you know you want to be in first.” All successful people then are understandably eccentric. They take risks that normal people wouldn’t.</i> I’m mildly insulted by Hercules’ premise. In fact, I want to be middle class, live in the suburbs, have a successful marriage, successful career, and not lose my mind doing it. To me, that is still “first place” if we’re labeling. Hercules’ statement suggests an objective version of success in one’s life, career, or leadership style. I think success is whatever you define it as. I end up quoting a good friend all the time, he is following a path to becoming a Catholic priest, and I’m certain he is going to change many lives. He said, “How narrowly you define your success is how widely you define your failure.” The definition of success is ever-changing and we should allow that kind of flexibility. Stepping up and stepping down is part of the process, it’s not settling. Furthermore, I think any fool can drive themselves to eccentricity, if they work hard enough and sacrifice enough. Far from being successful, in my eyes, this is a familiar model that I think is precisely why people want “normalcy” and balance. And if that is a middle class existence in the suburbs, it’s not a bad thing. “Being normal,” Hercules replied, “gets you a middle-class life in the suburbs. It’s fifth place, and you know you want to be in first.” All successful people then are understandably eccentric. They take risks that normal people wouldn’t.

I’m mildly insulted by Hercules’ premise. In fact, I want to be middle class, live in the suburbs, have a successful marriage, successful career, and not lose my mind doing it. To me, that is still “first place” if we’re labeling.

Hercules’ statement suggests an objective version of success in one’s life, career, or leadership style.

I think success is whatever you define it as. I end up quoting a good friend all the time, he is following a path to becoming a Catholic priest, and I’m certain he is going to change many lives. He said, “How narrowly you define your success is how widely you define your failure.” The definition of success is ever-changing and we should allow that kind of flexibility. Stepping up and stepping down is part of the process, it’s not settling.

Furthermore, I think any fool can drive themselves to eccentricity, if they work hard enough and sacrifice enough. Far from being successful, in my eyes, this is a familiar model that I think is precisely why people want “normalcy” and balance. And if that is a middle class existence in the suburbs, it’s not a bad thing.

]]> By: Priscilla http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-63909 Priscilla Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:54:01 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-63909 Wow! I'm not the only one who feels this way? Wow! I’m not the only one who feels this way?

]]> By: Bubba http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-57587 Bubba Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:49:37 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-57587 Fantastic post, I really feel that you have hit the true spirit of the Gen-Y woman on the head. I would like to offer one bit of advice to you and that is to be careful because many women develop a sort of edge or hardness when being the minority in the workplace. I understand exactly where you are coming from when you mention not being listened to because you are young and a women. I learned the importance of being excepted into the 'good old boys' club when I was in high school and the only girl in a majority of my classes (I took the auto and tech ones). The first day at the first shop I worked at I was greeted with stories of the previous two women whom had been employed there, each for under a year. There had been two women during the 20 year span of the company. Having no strong women to look up to I mimicked the men who I worked under and completely lost my feminine identity, this wasn't hard working a shop anyway. I developed a disliking for most women who were in non gender typical fields because a majority of them whom I encountered were there because they wanted to be the girl who worked with the guys or they wanted to get with the guys, not because they enjoyed or cared about the work. I developed an edge of sorts which has been carried throughout my other jobs and my course work. In college I was the only girl in all of my major specific courses. I infiltrated the good old boys club, hence my non feminine nick name. When I started my current career I went in assuming that everyone would attempt to discredit my work because I am far younger then them and I am a women. I felt as though I had to go above and beyond what would be expected from any middle aged man doing the same job. I was lucky enough to meet many women who had paid their dues and paved the way (I like to think) and now have people with whom I can discuss my current issues at work. They drilled into my head the importance of not showing a lot of emotion and for sure never crying, taking criticism with a gratitude and not letting them deter me from my current career path which I feel very passionate about. While this feeling of being constantly watched really pushed me to excel it also put a chip on my shoulder, where if I was criticized I would assume it was because I was young or female even though that isn't the case. I have seen many women fail because of this edge, which many women don't realize they have. My one piece of advice for you is to beware of this edge, it will develop without you realizing it and it will hinder you without you realizing it. Fantastic post, I really feel that you have hit the true spirit of the Gen-Y woman on the head. I would like to offer one bit of advice to you and that is to be careful because many women develop a sort of edge or hardness when being the minority in the workplace. I understand exactly where you are coming from when you mention not being listened to because you are young and a women. I learned the importance of being excepted into the ‘good old boys’ club when I was in high school and the only girl in a majority of my classes (I took the auto and tech ones). The first day at the first shop I worked at I was greeted with stories of the previous two women whom had been employed there, each for under a year. There had been two women during the 20 year span of the company. Having no strong women to look up to I mimicked the men who I worked under and completely lost my feminine identity, this wasn’t hard working a shop anyway. I developed a disliking for most women who were in non gender typical fields because a majority of them whom I encountered were there because they wanted to be the girl who worked with the guys or they wanted to get with the guys, not because they enjoyed or cared about the work. I developed an edge of sorts which has been carried throughout my other jobs and my course work. In college I was the only girl in all of my major specific courses. I infiltrated the good old boys club, hence my non feminine nick name.

When I started my current career I went in assuming that everyone would attempt to discredit my work because I am far younger then them and I am a women. I felt as though I had to go above and beyond what would be expected from any middle aged man doing the same job. I was lucky enough to meet many women who had paid their dues and paved the way (I like to think) and now have people with whom I can discuss my current issues at work. They drilled into my head the importance of not showing a lot of emotion and for sure never crying, taking criticism with a gratitude and not letting them deter me from my current career path which I feel very passionate about.

While this feeling of being constantly watched really pushed me to excel it also put a chip on my shoulder, where if I was criticized I would assume it was because I was young or female even though that isn’t the case. I have seen many women fail because of this edge, which many women don’t realize they have.

My one piece of advice for you is to beware of this edge, it will develop without you realizing it and it will hinder you without you realizing it.

]]> By: What’s Life Got to Do With It? Career & Identity Confessions of a Bride-to-Be « Little Red Suit http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-55013 What’s Life Got to Do With It? Career & Identity Confessions of a Bride-to-Be « Little Red Suit Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:45:46 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-55013 [...] fiancé, whose opinion out of love I choose to weigh with equal or more weight than my own. I’m a forward-thinking gal. One who’s got quite a bit of social capital, personal branding, and presence revolving around [...] […] fiancé, whose opinion out of love I choose to weigh with equal or more weight than my own. I’m a forward-thinking gal. One who’s got quite a bit of social capital, personal branding, and presence revolving around […]

]]> By: Girl Meets Business | Gen Y Women: Change starts with us http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-53390 Girl Meets Business | Gen Y Women: Change starts with us Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:53:00 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-53390 [...] week Rebecca of Modite said that Gen Y women will have to “breed a new form of feminism” as a way to combat the casual sexism that Monica recently wrote about on Twenty [...] […] week Rebecca of Modite said that Gen Y women will have to “breed a new form of feminism” as a way to combat the casual sexism that Monica recently wrote about on Twenty […]

]]> By: Personal PR & Identity Confessions of a Bride-to-Be at Personal PR http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-52913 Personal PR & Identity Confessions of a Bride-to-Be at Personal PR Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:37:48 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-52913 [...] whose opinion out of love I choose to weigh with equal or more weight than my own. I’m a forward-thinking gal. One who’s got quite a bit of social capital, personal branding, and presence revolving [...] […] whose opinion out of love I choose to weigh with equal or more weight than my own. I’m a forward-thinking gal. One who’s got quite a bit of social capital, personal branding, and presence revolving […]

]]> By: Free Gift: How You (Too) Participate in Casual Discrimination : Brazen Careerist http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51430 Free Gift: How You (Too) Participate in Casual Discrimination : Brazen Careerist Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:26:39 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51430 [...] triggered by Monica’s post, which, in her defense, sounded like a more balanced version of Rebecca’s post. Monica also seems to understand that both men and women can use gender as an edge. Funny how when [...] […] triggered by Monica’s post, which, in her defense, sounded like a more balanced version of Rebecca’s post. Monica also seems to understand that both men and women can use gender as an edge. Funny how when […]

]]> By: Margaret http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51213 Margaret Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:58:54 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51213 oh I so hear you sister! oh I so hear you sister!

]]> By: Kottu » Blog Archive » Workplace Discrimination - The Easy Way Out http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51061 Kottu » Blog Archive » Workplace Discrimination - The Easy Way Out Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:03:04 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-51061 [...] was triggered by Monica's post, which, in her defense, sounded like a more balanced version of Rebecca's post. Monica also seems to understand that both men and women can use gender as an edge. Funny how when [...] […] was triggered by Monica’s post, which, in her defense, sounded like a more balanced version of Rebecca’s post. Monica also seems to understand that both men and women can use gender as an edge. Funny how when […]

]]> By: Valeria Maltoni http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-50124 Valeria Maltoni Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:57:03 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2008/03/25/gen-y-women-%e2%80%93-out-of-the-workplace-woods/#comment-50124 Maybe I should move over here - this is where the conversation is happening! Be yourself, Rebecca, become more of who you want to be, and you'll be just fine. Maybe I should move over here - this is where the conversation is happening!

Be yourself, Rebecca, become more of who you want to be, and you’ll be just fine.

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