Why Women Can't Rise to the Top in Business

Ever wonder why there are so many more men in executive positions? Ever wonder why there are more male experts than female ones? The answer is in the innate nature of woman. We are the glue that keeps the family together or at least we are the ones to pick up all the pieces.

In the past Men went to work and the wife took care of everything so that he could concentrate on work and do what it took to rise to the top, if he was so inclined. He didn't come home wash dishes or pick up the kids or even do laundry. His whole role was wrapped up in being the income earner and the handyman (if he was so talented). Need the lawn mowed, need the garbage taken to the curb, or shovel the driveway? Then he was there to lend a hand. Need a diaper changed or a dish washed, he'd quickly disappear, he had work to do. By having less responsibilities at home he was free to put his focus into his work and if he wanted to climb the corporate ladder.

Today though, both parents work in most homes, both have more responsibilites in the home and with childcare. Their focus' are split between home and work thus they are challenged to do either as effectively as if they were able to focus on one role all day. Houses are no where near as clean, dinners are rarely shared at a table every night, and too often both parents are too exhausted to put in that extra effort at either work or home.

So are we doomed to mediocrity? No but it does mean that both parents need to look to each other for support and each need to look outside of the home for resources to help them. Quality daycare so they are not stressed and worried about their children. A quality house cleaner to ensure that weekends and evenings are free to focus on other tasks, such as children and the work they've both brought home. They both need to be willing to help the other and both need to have a vested interest in each others success in the workplace.

If one parent only cares about their career and places a tonne of demands on the other without helping out the other then things will fall apart. For arguments sake, I am takeing the traditional route but in todays world the roles could easily be reversed. Since, husbands in most cases still earn more and feel that their career is more important, they don't do 50% of home based work. The wife has added chores with grocery shopping, childcare, and housework. Just going on a family outing means an exhausting day for the wife as it is her responsibility to get everyone organized and out the door. She spends all the time making sure everyone, but her, is having fun and behaving. Afterall, the husband worked hard all day and deserves a day of leisure.

If the wife is trying to make a successful career for herself, it will be difficult because she won't be able to put in the long hours. She will have to drop everything for the kids and if the husband needs something done. Her focus will be split, her ability to stay organized will falter, especially if being organized isn't a strong suit. She will be too exhausted to anything well and so over scheduled that both her career and her family will suffer.

In todays family dynamic of two working parents it is so important that both parents work together and identify with each other so both can succeed and the family doesn't suffer. The husband must take on a more domestic role and all home chores must be split 50/50. An attitude of helping, sharing and caring about each other must be adopted by both parties. Neither can critizie, blame, or demand from the other or else someone gets so overwhelmed that it will all fall apart.