We've all heard about the unjust circumstances placed on women entering a man's world in the workforce. How difficult it is for women to be treated respectfully forget about equally. But, in my experience, being the sole female in a room of men isn't the most debilitating occurrence. I may even prefer it.
Now, hold your horses. I'm not that ignorant. Women are not treated fairly in the workforce. From being mansplained to being asked to run errands to having assumptions made that they will drop their work to get married and have children to the gender pay gap.
Fight me on it, if you disagree: in general, society still, to this 21rst century so-called modern day, does not view women as an absolute equal to that of their male counterpart.
Ironically, in America, 49% of women in the workforce "work primarily because they are their family's main breadwinner."
Two weeks ago, one of my classes had a guest speaker who was a female electrical engineer. She shared her memories of walking into conference rooms with older men sitting around a table and thinking that she was the secretary. Nevertheless, she was the one who ran those meetings.
And just last week I honorably attended The Red Bulletin Magazine's event honoring their featured Heroes Of The Year: Lindsey Vonn, Crazy Legs, Doris Muñoz, Dave Mackey, Lisa Wang, and Mario Bonfante Jr. All had inspiring stories and experiences to share, but former U.S. champion gymnast's Lisa Wang's work stuck with me. As the founder of SheWorx, Wang empowers ambitious female entrepreneurs to gain influence in their prospective field. Wang referenced the fact that in a man's world, it's a fight for woman leaders, but it's not impossible to gain control in such a masculine-veered society.
Is it nerve-wracking? Yes.
Is it unfamiliar territory? Yes.
Is it empowering? Hell yeah!
I use the challenge, complications, and criticism as a force of power. I am a strong, sensual woman and I don't have any limits. I can accomplish as much if not more as anyone else in this world.
I may not have a penis, but I've got brains, boldness, and boobs.
I'm a boss. No one can tell me differently.
Being the only woman surrounded by men, either older or similar in age, is stressful; however, I won't let the daunting horrors thwart my confidence. I want all the male's attention as I strut into the room, plop my work on the desk, sit down, and stare right back. I will turn their superior moods into gawking surprise. Not claiming they are inferior, but I enjoy astonishing people who thought less of me.
Instead of focusing on the hardships women face, I'd rather highlight the possible power gained: Attention.
If I'm the only female, then I already stand out from the crowd. I've got their attention. I'm not the ugly duckling, but, in contrast, a swan encircled by intrigued onlookers.
Is it possible that I'm overlooked? That my answers are undermined? That I'm simply ignored? That I'm objectified?
Yes. Nevertheless, I know, personally, don't let that happen and you shouldn't either. I stand my ground and take all that negative energy and refine it to my benefit, my advantage. I'd rather be the only woman in a room of judgemental men as I am the being who gets all the attention, and I know that I have the ability to prove them wrong.
I'm not on a losing streak, but a winning one.
