“At the end of the day, don’t forget that you are a person, don’t forget you are a mother, don’t forget you are a wife, don’t forget you are a daughter.”
—Indra Nooyi, Former Chair, PepsiCo
Uncharacteristically, I was late in submitting my publisher’s letter for ELYSIAN’s Women CEO and Leadership issue. I struggled writing the quarterly column, overwhelmed with the data that showed obstacles women leaders face, which are significantly disproportionate to men. Noticing my malaise, one of my teammates, tongue in cheek, asked, “Do you ever wish you were a male CEO . . . even if it was just for a day?” We laughed, and I brushed the question off to continue with my writing.
But the thought caused me to pause, and I could not erase the idea from my mind. What would my life have been as a male? So, I decided to put the question on our social media channels and see what others had to say.
They answered. From the scrutiny of women’s appearance to our deep-rooted commitment to caregiving and the gender disparity in self-confidence . . . They felt that women almost always start from behind.
As mothers, wives, and daughters, our paths differ greatly from our male counterparts.
Appearance
Can you imagine how much time would be saved if you did not have to worry about how you looked? Imagine being a man and getting ready in about 15 minutes… shaving, jumping in the shower, brushing your teeth, putting deodorant on, grabbing a suit, and walking out the door. It takes most women a minimum of 45 minutes to get ready for the day. (This does not take into account showering and other basic hygiene.)
Therefore, men statistically have a net 30-minute “time win” every day . . . multiplied by seven days and again multiplied by 52 weeks. If women spent equal time as men readying themselves, we would literally have an additional 182 hours each year to dedicate to something other than appearance. In simple terms, women could free up one full week to focus on empowerment, knowledge, travel, self-improvement, and more.
Caregiving
Women are the hub of the “caregiving wheel,” with the two widest “spokes” being motherhood and eldercare. Women bring life into this world and bring comfort to loved ones who are departing. Imagine a woman in leadership, a CEO’s enhanced “lift,” and the responsibilities she carries in her private life, with the carry-forward implications of those duties. Her unique perspective on balance, compromise, and peace is heralded by these life experiences.
Consequentially, women spend energy and thought focused more on others’ well-being than on themselves. This, in turn, translates to reduced sleep. Statistically, men sleep 12% more than women. Empirical data shows the importance of sleep, which is essential to every process of the body, including immune response, brain health, and physical well-being.
As the “cultural caretaker,” women quantifiably, whether inside the workplace or at home, sleep less because they are the predominant informal care providers and therefore experience “caregiving stressors” disproportionately from their male counterparts, according to the World Journal of Psychiatry.
Confidence
Women are the hub of the “caregiving wheel,” with the two widest “spokes” being motherhood and eldercare. Women bring life into this world and bring comfort to loved ones who are departing. Imagine a woman in leadership, a CEO’s enhanced “lift,” and the responsibilities she carries in her private life, with the carry-forward implications of those duties. Her unique perspective on balance, compromise, and peace is heralded by these life experiences. Consequentially, women spend energy and thought focused more on others’ well-being than on themselves. This, in turn, translates to reduced sleep. Statistically, men sleep 12% more than women. Empirical data shows the importance of sleep, which is essential to every process of the body, including immune response, brain health, and physical well-being. As the “cultural caretaker,” women quantifiably, whether inside the workplace or at home, sleep less because they are the predominant informal care providers and therefore experience “caregiving stressors” disproportionately from their male counterparts, according to the World Journal of Psychiatry.
Initially, we laughed at the idea of being a man for a day, then the idea became intriguing . . . but finally, reality set in. Though it made us chuckle, imagine a world without a woman’s gentle hands, compassionate heart, and selfless love.
My message in this Women CEO and Leadership issue is . . . “Do not forget that you are a mother, do not forget you are a wife, do not forget you are a daughter.” This is what matters the most.
Thank you for believing in the journey and remembering your strength.
With much love,
Karen Floyd
Publisher
Read Past Letters from the Publisher