Social Responsibility

Something I always emphasize is that your work and family decisions are personal. That is, only you can decide what is best for your own arrangement in caring for your family and providing financially.

But, as I have continued reading Leslie Bennett’s "The Feminine Mistake", a more public aspect of this decision becomes clear. As I have said many times, change in the workplace will only come about when parents begin to demand change. While an individual who gets the work arrangement that he or she needs will advance the cause, it is only through a collective effort that we will see real change

As we know (and I will talk more about this week), workplace flexibility has been primarily a women’s issue. After reading Bennett’s book, I have started to thing more about my obligation to the women who came before me to continue advancing womens’ place in the work world. If not for ourselves, but for our daughters so that they don’t need books about work/life balance when they are old enough to pursue a career?

Here is an excerpt from Bennett’s book that is directed at women who chose to opt out instead of demanding the work arrangement they need:

“So here’s one message a lot of successful women would like to pass on to those who think that opting out is the answer: If you don’t like the way things are set up, work to change them. If you have problems with the way your job is structured, figure out some creative alternatives. If you just walk away from paid employment, you will not only have cheated yourself of the opportunities that might have come your way but you will also have forfeited your chance to have an impact for the better. As Mahatma Gandhi put it, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.””