Womenomics
The June 1st edition of BusinessWeek magazine featured the new book, Womenonics, written by Claire Shipman (ABC News and Good Morning America) and Katty Kay (BBC World News America.) In summary, the book denotes how beneficial it is to employers to exercise flexibility in work schedules, depicting how important it is for women to have this flexibility to accommodate their home life, their life as a mother, and all around multitasker.
While I agree with their theory on the whole, as flexibility in work schedules make life far more enjoyable and makes employees more efficient with time management, my mind was boggled at statements such as this “Capital One thought work flexibility was a key issue only for female employees. Turns out, it was true for the men as well.”
Is the fact that a man would like to enjoy his children and home-life as much as women such an epiphany? Is is too far out of the realm of 9-5 that a man would like a personal day? While I know the double-standard usually takes presidence in favor of men, on this issue, I’m siding with the boys.
Perhaps it’s that I have two sons, as opposed to daughters, that I understand the need for equality for everyone. When my boys have children of their own some day, I want them, too, to have the flexibility in their work schedules that women have. After all, they’ll want to see first home runs and school plays, too.
Perhaps having sons teaches one how to be a better woman? Because of my sons, I have a greater deal of empathy with the boys club.
Discovering that men would like a little flexibility in their work schedules is a bit simplistic and naive, is it not? It’s human emotion, a human need. The fact that BusinessWeek mag and Womenomics feels that this is an epiphany makes it feel like three giant steps back for womankind.
Have we grown so accustom to men being big strong providers that we forgot that they have feelings as well?
Tags: BBC News, Claire Shipman, equality, feminity, flexibility in the workplace, Good Morning America, job share, Katy Kay, masculinity, Men, multitasking, parenting, women, Womenomics, working moms, workplace
Well said. You are a bright woman. Thanks for realizing we are human too.