The annual MMA Women Managers’ Convention is a celebration of the spirit of women; and the many diverse roles women play. This year, MMA celebrated International Women’s Day with a conference on the theme “Level Up!”
Women bring a unique blend of empathetic leadership and strategic vision
Hon’ble Justice S. Srimathy, Madras High Court
I am a first-generation lawyer. The legal profession is dominated by men. A lawyer’s day typically begins with case preparation in the morning, followed by court appearances, meetings with litigants, and late-night brief preparations. Family life often takes a backseat. This scenario applies to male lawyers as well. Consequently, lawyers may not always be available for their family members. Hence, the family plays a crucial role in the success of a woman lawyer; they are her support system.
Lawyers often immerse themselves deeply in their cases, sometimes to the extent of treating them as personal battles. Consequently, they may become exhausted and mentally drained. It is imperative for their families to help them recharge and maintain mental stability. Therefore, family support serves as the primary foundation for any woman lawyer’s advancement.
Attaining prominence in a male-dominated profession poses challenges for women. They often need to exert double or triple the effort to stand out. There is a prevalent misconception that women lawyers are primarily suited for family law matters. To challenge this stereotype, I avoided family disputes and focused on other legal domains such as municipal law, electricity law, income tax law, and customs and excise. Choosing the right specialization is crucial.
The legal profession is unique in that the outcome of a case is uncertain and largely dependent on the judge. However, lawyers possess a tenacious spirit, leading them to pursue appeals in higher courts until they secure favourable judgments. They are not afraid to challenge judges’ decisions. Because of this courage, boldness and standing for a cause, the lawyers are the first set of people to raise their voice against societal issues. Hence, their role in a democracy is both essential and significant. In our freedom fight, most of the persons who led the fight were lawyers. Hence the collective voice or teamwork is another tool for level up.
As lawyers have limited mobility and devote their time 24×7 to their profession with passion, the impact obviously is on the health. Women, in particular, tend to overlook health symptoms, leading to various issues. Physical well-being is closely intertwined with mental health. Our Bhartiya yoga explains it as Panch Kosh, which means the Five Bodies of Consciousness: Annamaya or the physical body; Pranamaya or the lifeforce; Manonmaya or the emotional force; Vignanamaya or wisdom and Anandha maya or bliss. Therefore, maintaining physical and mental health is paramount for any level up. There is a famous saying in Tamil that means that you can paint only if there is a wall.
While aiming for any higher level, you may come across setbacks, obstacles and challenges. You may be stuck in the middle of the pipeline and your destiny will be out of reach. In such situations, take a break. Tell yourself that silence is an opportunity to learn a lesson and then proceed, like a river that fills pits on the way and flows past small stones but deviates if it faces huge boulders.
While handling cases, I have come across some women who have lost track of their goal. An MCA student had an aspiration to achieve great heights in the computer field but after marriage, she lost track of her goal and wasted 15 years of her prime life. Whenever marriage is not working, take a decision at the earliest. Nowadays, it is sad to see that spouses are fighting to hurt and to take revenge on each other. In that process, both waste their energy. When we are angry, the body temperature increases and we get acidity, ulcer and other complications. Save your energy to bounce back with a bang, rather than wasting it on unnecessary issues. All these are for personal life.
At the societal level, attention must be directed towards three things: bridging rural-urban disparities, promoting eco-friendly practices, and combating issues like drug abuse. Each individual has a role to play, starting from the family unit.
We have a long list of women achievers—from Velu Nachiyar to Vijayalakshmi Pandit; from Indira Gandhi to Draupadi Murmu; from Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, the first Indian woman allopathic doctor to Roshni Sharma, the first women bike rider from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The latest on the list is Pragya who has been offered admission in the master’s degree in law by six foreign universities, with scholarship. She comes from a very humble background. Her father is employed as a cook in a residence of a judge.
To sum up, women bring a unique blend of empathetic leadership and strategic vision; fostering inclusive workplaces where diverse voices are heard and valued, ultimately driving innovation and organizational success. However, achieving such success requires several factors: a supportive family, specialized expertise in our respective fields, collective voice, conflict resolution, and preserving our energy. Prioritizing good physical and mental health remains paramount throughout this journey.
Levelling up for women can be harder…
Ms Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson, The Hindu Group
I believe that the international women’s day should not be just one day of token celebration of all the wonderful things that women do. Every day should be women’s day. Despite progress in technology and things like AI and global connectivity, it’s quite tragic that there has not been much progress in the participation of our women in the workforce and the appreciation of the value of their work.
We feel that women who are privileged with education and other opportunities have fewer obstacles. But in my case, I had to deal with a host of adversarial situations before I could make any headway in my own professional life. I came through challenging scenarios over many decades because of a certain stubbornness. That stubbornness will take you a long way. Persistence and standing your ground can help you move forward in the work that you do, not just in your houses but also in your offices and wherever you work.
One must have faith in one’s capabilities. Despite overwhelming situations, it’s important to stand your ground to get progress and breakthroughs. You must level up yourself with your own qualifications and standards. Men should also level up to meet your expectations. Don’t be caught in the cliche of breaking the glass ceiling. Look beyond the glass ceiling and reach the sky, rather than being limited by any glass ceiling.
A recent Deloitte survey of 5000 women globally points out some top concerns for women in the workplace. In India, 59% of the women surveyed felt concerned about women’s rights. It means that women are much more aware of their rights than they were earlier. 59% did not feel confident enough that their rights were not impinged upon. 59% of women were afraid of the lack of financial security, and 57% were worried about their mental and physical health. These are not good numbers.
Equality for women has been guaranteed by the Constitution. We also have a fairly robust legal system. But on the whole, the situation is worrying. Leveling up is not just for women, but for organizations too. They have to level up and look out for the well-being of women who work in their offices, eliminating issues like sexual harassment and gender bias that are very much in existence in many corporates and offices across the country. While there is no outward discrimination in HR policies, sexism often exists in subtler ways. We come across gender bias expressed in conversations. There’s a lack of sensitivity in addressing the domestic situation of women such as childcare, the type of work they can do and the hours that they need to spend on their work.
There may also exist a stereotype regarding successful women. They are often subjected to criticism compared to men occupying similar positions. As Margaret Atwood, the writer, aptly observed, while a powerful man is often viewed as a natural leader, a powerful woman is frequently seen as an anomaly. It is imperative to hold people accountable for perpetuating such attitudes. Gender policies and HR departments within organizations must actively address these subtle biases and strive to eliminate them. By doing so, workplaces can create a more inclusive environment where women feel valued and respected.
Levelling up for women also implies a special organizational effort to upskill women in areas like new technology, which will foster productivity for companies. Organizations must proactively address the specific challenges women face, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones and providing the necessary tools and resources for their advancement.
Men should also level up to see women in a more positive light and change their own attitudes towards gender. Levelling up for women can be harder, given her own and society’s expectations. Having said this, I urge that every woman manager must level up to her own expectations. Challenging gender stereotyping in the workplace enhances belief in yourself and your capabilities. Push back against any resistance to your agenda and your growth—be it at home or in the office. Never be apologetic or timid. Stand your ground. When you see unfair and unjust practices around you, speak out the truth. It’s never easy, but it’s all about recognizing who you are. Make sure that people recognize the sacrifices and hard work that you put into every situation.
Level up with your peers and make sure your peers understand what needs to be done, at the right place, at the right time. It’s also important to see opportunities in the workplace as a chance to continuously learn and enhance your skills and capabilities. Never be afraid to learn new things and don’t be afraid to point out the things which you don’t understand. Women often feel overawed by technology. There is nothing wrong in asking a few questions. Forge ahead by learning new things.
At every micro level, you must be confident that you are levelling up and changing life for yourself and for people around you. Form coalitions and networks among yourselves, so that you can grow to greater heights. No society will be vibrant, unless women are equal partners alongside men.
