break the crystal cealing
More than 40 years have passed since the feminist Marilyn Loden denounced in a speech the existence of a “glass ceiling” that prevents the professional advancement of women in the workplace, and that continues to be a reality for millions of women in the West, especially in the countries of the so-called “third world”.
This glass ceiling, invisible as its name implies, prevents most women from reaching managerial positions in companies to which we have dedicated our lives and justifies us earning less than our male colleagues for doing the same job, among other situations. unacceptable labor but totally naturalized by the macho culture.
The arguments put forward to make it invisible are many: that women prefer to dedicate ourselves to the family and not to professional success (as if we were a homogeneous whole that always thinks the same), which incidentally is never a choice that conditions male success; or that pregnancy causes a delay in our careers or even that women simply do not try hard enough.
When giving an opinion about it, the most surprising considerations can make their appearance since, for many, anything is preferable to reviewing the way in which our society rewards professional success.
I have never understood why many (generally men) are uncomfortable with denouncing the glass ceiling, but I suspect it has to do with feeling that they are beneficiaries of this injustice. In other words, admitting that professional competition between men and women does not take place on equal terms is a thought that intimidates them, makes them feel vulnerable, makes them question their own achievements. Can someone explain to me where this masculine fragility comes from? Where does this low self-esteem come from, this need to justify the existence of being essential providers?
Our male companions could simply reflect on this, if they took the time to look around them. Because that is another of the toxic conditions of traditional masculinity: their egocentrism, their inability to empathize, a reflection of an upbringing that removes any emotional sensitivity as early as possible. Don’t they have sisters, friends, mothers, girlfriends and acquaintances whose stories they hear daily?
The serious thing is that the change will happen with or without them, but it could be much simpler, more harmonious and more constructive if they are precisely the ones who help us break the glass ceiling, if they take on part of a movement for the equality (not for female superiority, as many seem to believe) whose ultimate goal is to achieve a society in which success is celebrated, regardless of what is between one’s legs.
Logically, that would imply the renunciation of one’s own privileges, and that is something that rarely happens voluntarily in history. We can understand it. But if things are like this, male companions, you will have to put up with the noise of the stones that we will continue to throw to break the glass ceiling. And don’t come complaining later if someone hits you on the head by mistake.
References:
- “Opinion journalism” on Wikipedia.
- “Gender equality” on Wikipedia.
- “Glass ceiling” on Wikipedia.
- “The human rights of women and gender equality” in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations.
What is an opinion piece?
A opinion piece It is a type of journalistic text in which the author exposes to the reader his personal position regarding a specific topic. These are essentially argumentative texts, which use information to promote a perspective, that is, to convince the reader to accept their point of view. For this reason, they are usually signed and of a personal nature (with the exception of press editorials, in which the institutional position of the newspaper is reflected), since the reader may agree or disagree with what they contain. it is stated.