You’ve heard the expression a million times before, ‘it’s man’s world.’ True, maybe, but there is plenty of room for both genders to succeed. Every decade woman get closer and closer to equality in the work place and equal respect. While we aren’t there yet, there is no reason women can’t be equally as successful as men while maintaining the qualities that make us women.
Recently someone asked me what my career goals are. When I told him his response was, “oh, you’re going to be the female Jerry Bruckheimer.” Uhhhh, noooooo. No disrespect to Mr. Bruckheimer. He has an incredible career. But why must we be thought of as the female version of any man? I’m pretty sure when a man says he wants to be Secretary of State no one says to him, ‘oh, like a male Hillary Clinton.’
Men and woman are different creatures. We have different strengths and weaknesses. We operate in different ways. Despite these facts, women are advised to act like men, to move up in the workplace. I don’t believe that successful women obtained their high level positions by trying to match the men they worked under. They got there, I believe by being women; Strong, smart, sensitive, emotionally balanced women.
Instead of hiding the attributes that make us women, let’s use them to our advantage. When I walk into a job interview, I don’t wear a suit and tie and act as masculine as possible. I walk in confidentially in my heels and lipstick and show them why I am the best person for the job. Beyond the qualifications on my resume, what makes me good at what I do is my ability to handle things with a feminine touch. Feminists may not approve my saying that, but being a women makes me who I am. If I were a man, I would probably have a different approach to life.
Journalist Mika Brzezinski wrote a great book that everyone should read. In ‘Knowing Your Value’ Brzezinski talks about being direct and demanding respect from men in the workplace in a professional manner without sacrificing who we are as women. I love this book! It brought to light everything I knew but never thought to verbalize in such a simple way.
So, why do women try to match our male counter parts by being like them? because men seem to know how to succeed. Guess what? So do women. We just go about it in our own, womanly ways.
About Rachel Levine
Rachel Levine has worked in the entertainment industry for over ten years. She started her career in Colorado and moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to continue reaching for her goals. Rachel has worked in many aspects of the industry from acting to production and everything in between. She’ll do any job on a production as long as she gets to do it in her favorite place, on set! Name a position on a film set and she has probably filled it. Currently Rachel works for a movie studio and writes and produces for her production company, Off the Lot Films, where she is Co-Executive Producer with her mom, Penni. They create web series’, short films and are in process of writing their first feature length film. Rachel’s true passion is making movies and television that touch people and make an impact.