More Women Executives
By: Emma Engel, Jake Bartshe, Kaylee Laws, and Tiffany Quinn
Problem:
Throughout the United States, there are more male executives than female, although women complete the same, if not higher education as men. The problem with this is women feel the pressures of social and personal interaction with other men. Women are still expected to take care of their kids although they may be a full time worker, just like their husband. More men are focused on leadership roles and their profession while women are focused on that as well, but also taking care of their children and families at home. Women were not expected to have higher roles than men in older literature, therefore they stayed at home and took care of the house and children. We interpreted the phrase “We are not there yet” as the female population in the United States, not having nearly as many female executives as men, and they have completed over 60% of all Master’s Degrees. Even if women did possess Master’s Degrees, they would not have been accepted into a workplace as a female executive since the offices were predominantly male occupied. Yet women holding executive positions are still earning 35% less than men. Women have been portrayed in society as housewives and were always suppose to be at home taking care of their families and pleasing their husband. This was shown throughout the story's , "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "The Awakening". Although a woman's role was subjected to be specifically helping around the house this created a long lasting stereotype that women could not take on leadership roles. Women work the same if not harder than men to complete a task, so they should be able to take on more executive positions. We are still not there yet because women are still being seen as not being able to be fully committed because people think that women need to stay home and take care of the family. Within the next five years more women than men will be in the global workforce. If women are going to be majority in the workforce, then women should have more leadership roles in companies. Women are still being paid less than men in just about every job. Women are still less likely than men to have confidence in themselves as leaders, which is a problem. Studies show that having women in executive positions can increase success for company's. Businesses may be better off with female board leadership and could mean more business value and profit for the company. Women tend to make more conservative investments, which are less risky, and can serve companies well. Also another point is that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer was the second best paid women in the New York Times's analysis, she earned $24.9 million, but back in 2012-2013 Mayer earned $62 million, which these values were still less than the $96 million the company paid to the man who worked/was ranked under her. The highest-ranking female executive at Anheuser-Busch sued them because of her unfair paying based on gender-- she only made $1 million as Vice President and the guy who had that position before her earned $4.5 million when he left. These unfair paying scales pose a big crush on women and because just based on their gender they earn way less than men. We need more women executives and in order to get them there needs to be a fair pay to executives in the same positions and not based on their gender.
Example #1: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman
"So I take phosphates or phosphites-- whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to "work" until I am well again" (Gilman 770).
"There comes John, and I must put this away- he hates to have me write a word" (Gilman 771).
These quotes show stereotypes that were placed on women because of the past times. Women were thought of as "housewives" and were only suppose to stay in the house and clean and cook and provide for the family. Men did not like the fact of women helping out by working or being in school and getting an education.
Example #2: The Awakening by Kate Chopin
This quote shows that since men brought in the wealth and women had to take care of their family and home. Women had the task of homemakers and took care of the chores, looking after the safety and well being of their children and spouse, and women always had to make sure food and clothes were prepared for them. So with that being said, being a successful wife and mother was desirable.
CEO Positions That Are Held by Women:
- Mary T. Barra, General Motors Co. (GM)
- Marissa Mayer, Yahoo Inc.
- Sheri S. McCoy, Avon Products Inc.
- Carol Meyrowitz, TJX Companies, Inc.
- Denise M. Morrison, Campbell Soup Co.
- Indra K. Nooyi, PepsiCo, Inc.
Statistics:
- 33% more women are able to get college degrees than men
- Women only earn 73 cents to every $1 a man makes
- In the United States alone, only 4.8% of CEO's are women
Solution #1: Have More Stay-At-Home Dads
Solution #2: Less male positions and more women able to take leading roles
Solution #3: Equal Pay For Both Men and Women
Citations:
- "Businesses May Benefit from More Females on Executive Boards." Nooga.com. 5 Aug. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://nooga.com/162804/businesses-may-benefit-from-more-females-on-executive-boards/>.
- "Knowledge Center." Knowledge Center. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-ceos-sp-500>.
- "The Highest-Paid Female CEOs Still Make Millions Less Than Their Male Counterparts." ThinkProgress RSS. 9 June 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/06/09/3446365/women-ceos-pay-gap/>.