Interviewed: Systemic Factors That Hinder The Progression of Women
Last night, I was a guest of the ‘Merging Life and Money Show’. My host was the magnanimous, magnetic, mighty Marie-Josée Caesar (MJ), a former COO and French woman of color, who grew a pension fund from 0 to 996M. The embodiment of bold brilliance, power, and an indomitable spirit, I am overjoyed to call her a friend and mentor. Her encouragement, wisdom, guidance, time, and so much more are invaluable to me.
MJ interviewed me about the gender pay gap, imposter syndrome, and gender inequalities in the finance industry — particularly venture capital.
There are a number of systemic factors that impede the progression of women. And, since awareness builds consciousness (ABC, Dennis Merritt Jones), and consciousness manifests and dominant thought prevails (The Law of Co-Creation), progress is made through 1) continuing to create awareness, which builds consciousness, which is that which manifests, 2) changing predominant thinking, which requires intention, commitment, and ‘the why’ that motivates a shift.
Here are just some of the issues:
1) Women are more likely to experience poverty, particularly after a life event such as divorce or death of a spouse
2) The gender pay gap
3) Racial and gender inequalities in VC funding
4) Educational inequalities
5) Reproductive rights for women
6) Patriarchal societies and norms that control women
7) Labels utilized to control women morally, behaviorally, socially, psychologically
8) Societal expectations and traditional gender roles
9) Geopolitical, economic, workplace and other policies that knowingly and unknowingly restrict the progress of women
Women are “burning out”- they are rock stars in their careers and at home where there is increased responsibility due to the pandemic. In addition to this, women tend to take on what a recent McKinsey and Company report about “Women In the Workplace” calls office housework, work that is important at face value, and yet is undervalued within an organization, and has no impact upon their ability to be promoted.
I hypothesize that there are women engaging in activities that do not serve their highest purpose, vision, mission, intentions, values, goals- at home, in their careers, and across other environments such as schools, religious institutions, professional organizations, boards, personal relationships, and so on. I write this not from a space of, or intent to shame, blame, or guilt, nor from judgement / or to judge — rather from a space of love, and a desire to see women transformed, joyous, impactful, filled with self-love, self-compassion, self-forgiveness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-worth, having a grand vision of the high self, unafraid to be who they want to be, as they create themselves, in control of their own lives and destinies. Free to think and do as they choose, liberated of limiting beliefs and agreements made unaware.
In closing, the progress made to advance women, impoverished and otherwise, across the world, has been stalled and reversed due to the pandemic. And, across all issues, in the US, women of color, Black women specifically, continue to be the most impacted group. This is juxtaposed against women being the more educated gender, and Black women being the most educated group and the largest consumer of books. It is imperative that it be implicitly and explicitly understood — the advancement, the transformation, the liberation of women, internally and externally, is the advancement of future generations. The success of children is directly correlated to the success of mothers.
This is not to diminish the importance of men and fathers. Enlightened men and fathers, fully alive, aware, filled with self-love, self-compassion, and self-forgiveness, and listening is what is needed. Men ready to do the work to advance women, with expediency, or ready to cede their positions in leadership to women who are.
Thank you to Dean Erika James of The Wharton School, one of my alma maters, the first woman, the first African-American, and the first African-American woman to lead the prestigious and historic business school, whose keynote commentary about imposter syndrome during Momentum 2021, a 3-day event created specifically to focus upon women, encouraged and inspired me to write about women.
Thank you to Judith Rodin, first woman to be president of an Ivy League institution, former President of the University of Pennsylvania, whose career remarks during her Momentum 2021 keynote encouraged me to make bolder choices and statements.
Thank you to Carla Harris, whose bold voice and pearls of wisdom are a constant inspiration to me.
Thank you to Oprah Winfrey, whose voice and enlightened vision have inspired me as a woman of color in the New Thought movement.
And finally, a thank you to the countless number of people who do and have care(d), encourage(d), support(ed), inspire(d), coach(ed), love(d), and believe(d) in and beyond me.
OVERVIEW:
Whilst the gap between men and women continues to narrow in many areas, it is important to look at some of the systemic factors affecting the progression of women today.
Join me, MJ Caesar, The Financial Wellness Strategist, every Thursday at 5:00 pm PST. This Thursday, my special guest, Natasha Charles will be addressing factors such as imposter syndrome, the gender pay gap, societal expectations, and access to venture capital funding.
Watch the interview here:> https://bit.ly/2WRbHR2
