Being a woman in a male workplace, is never easy. It is ironic sometimes that when I do have an opportunity to read a non-required fiction book that is not a board book, the book is set with a female character working in a male field. The latest one is called Starting Now by Debbie Macomber. One of the subplots in the book is regarding an Estate Lawyer named Libby who was laid off from her firm and her mentor suggested to her to get a life outside of work. She took the message to heart and started volunteering at a hospital by rocking the newborns, started knitting, going to the gym, and mentoring a teenage pregnant girl. In the meantime, she started networking and started her own office. Libby started to achieve her mentor’s request and then was able to be rehired by her firm, just to fall into the same rut that she was in before. Libby decided that since she thought that she would never receive partner in the firm that she would be better off on her own and having her life back. Just when she was going to resign, her mentor offered her partner in the firm. Libby negotiated having set hours, set clients, and achieved a work-life balance that was agreeable to both the employee and the company. (Macomber, 2013)
As of 2011, “women earn 45.9% of all law degrees and make up 45.4% of associates; they make up only 19.4% of partners.” (Northouse, 2013) Libby had an excellent goal to become partner in a short amount of time; however, that may also have put her at a disadvantage as it could lead her to be even more heartbroken when it wouldn’t come true. On the other hand, if Libby did receive the promotion she thought was coming, would she have been on a “”glass cliff”: They are more likely to be appointed to precarious leadership situations associated with greater risk and criticism.” (Northouse, 2013) As Libby was not recruiting new major clients, she was put out on the glass cliff. You may be asking yourself, where’s the leadership in this story? Libby would be considered a situational leader. According to our lesson material, a situational leader would have a directive behavior and a supportive behavior. (PSU WC, L 5, p 14) Libby became a mentor to a teenage girl who got herself in a very bad situation. Libby told the girl what she needed to do (directive behavior) and provided moral support, listening, and encouragement (supportive behavior). Is it really that much? Probably not; however, there may be more to the story that was not told – and left up to our imagination. This does show that even in the oddest places, a situational leader could come forward and make a difference in someone’s lives.
As I was reading this, it made me recall about Northouse’s reference to the glass ceiling and the glass pipeline. It made me think of Libby and how she thought that working long hours and doing the best work possible would propel her to partner in a very short time and then how heartbroken she was when she instead was laid off because she was not bringing in new clients. With being laid off, Libby had hit the glass ceiling and never realized it. At that time, Libby had been employed at the highest level she could She was working in a man’s world and wanted to be a successful lawyer. She “got a life” and then was able to come back to being a lawyer at the firm, but only after breaking the glass ceiling. With the help of her mentor, she was able to negotiate with the partners of the law firm for reduced hours, reduced clients, and still has the title of partner.
Northouse states that “women who make up a very small minority of a male-dominated group are seen as tokens representing all women; they experience significant pressure as their highly visible performance is scrutinized and they are perceived through gender-stereotyped lenses.” (Northouse, 2013) As Libby was in the story, I am also working in a predominately male facility. It seems that any time that I would be off for a day or adjust my working hours to accommodate something that needs accomplished for my family, I would be ruthlessly teased about it from some people who are further along the company ladder than I am. It wouldn’t matter if my direct supervisor approved the change or not. I realize that I am most likely best suited for the “mommy track” and for now that’s fine. I enjoy being involved in my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, teaching CPR/First Aid through the American Heart Association, and working with my son to make the best of his pervasive developmental disorder. I work full time with males who respect my need to change my schedule when needed (and yes, still be teased about it); however, as long as I can stand my ground, I am content with where I am as long as I still accomplish what needs to be done. As of this moment, I would not change a thing.
References
Macomber, D. (2013). Starting Now. New York: Ballantine Books.
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice (Sixth ed.). California: Sage Publications.
The Pennsylvania State University World Campus. (2011). Lesson 5: Style and Situational Approach. Retrieved April 2013, from PSYCH485: Leadership in Work Settings: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/002/content/05_lesson/printlesson.html