What women at Microsoft face, and why many leave(seattletimes.com) |
What women at Microsoft face, and why many leave(seattletimes.com) |
Steeped in a workaholic culture that more than once had her
sleeping on the office couch, she was afraid of missing her
school-age daughter’s childhood.
“I discovered how important family was,” she said. So she
quit.
But I don't think we should outlaw, or even demonize workaholic cultures like the one described.
There's a strong movement, through social pressures, making it not "okay" to do that.
Just like it should be okay to be a workaholic if that's what helps you sleep, on the couch, at night
The problem is that workaholic men who put their career ahead of their family do better in their career than women who put their family first. So the social pressure is for men to change their life choices, and companies to change their cultures, to accommodate women.
Is that not how things are supposed to work?
Yes, in my view. Not, apparently, in the collective view of our society. If that happens too much in a particular company, like Microsoft, they're subject to government pressure and unfavorable public scrutiny like this article. We simply cannot allow companies to have hard-driving, workaholic cultures if it means that most of the benefits accrue to men rather than women.
Popular media is constantly reminding me that woman are strong, invincible, fierce and independent. And yet I'm also constantly told that men have to change their behaviors to accommodate women.