The pace of a woman’s role as a leader is accelerating in our society. Women are continuing to rise at the top and mid-level leadership positions. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister rightly said that “you can feel the condition of Nation by looking at the status of women”. Today every country offers plenty of opportunities to women in their day to day life. Women are increasingly inclined towards social and political issues and making their best to change the social status of women across the world. Education and awareness has inspired women to foray out of the four walls of their home. Today many women have strongly involved themselves in the political, social movements and gained prominent position in administration and public life. Women now value their social life too. Modern women have started caring for themselves, their own health, needs and academic pursuits.
Historically speaking; almost every field;be it, public relations or business matters has been largely controlled by men. Looking at the present scenario women are rising at every level. Although certain sections of women, still face discrimination and suffer a lot. The relation between leadership and gender has become an important thing to take note on. Becoming a leader involves leadership role, acquiring new skills and adapting new style to fulfill that role. Women have started recognising their talent and potential and they make half of the world’s workforce and college graduates today hold quarter of leaderships role while they still have to achieve more. There has been progress in case of women gaining seats in corporate sectors but leadership roles remained low. They have faced many hurdles in their journey as they often receive fewer important responsibilities that could lead their promotions.
Today women are building a pipeline to access a key position in leadership. Companies must ensure that they have equal opportunity to gain skills in order to improve their leadership abilities. Many companies are offering supportive policies like maternity relief (some of the companies are also offering paternity leave so that both the genders can share caregiving responsibility). There is an incredible increase in gender parity to encourage more girls and pursue leadership education and can end the societal biases about women in leadership roles. When woman have strength to manage teams and employees, it creates the next generation of female roles. As women in workplace play a part to work towards gender equality ,the gap will end slowly and gradually.
More than 70 Nations across the world have seen women lead their government in modern era. Some are elected, some are appointed while some hold their legacy. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was the first woman elected Prime Minister in the world. Her husband was assassinated by aBuddhist monk, while in the wake of his death she took the leadership of Sri Lanka, she launched her own political dynasty. Indira Gandhi joined the movement for independence for India and became the first elected woman Prime Minister of the country too, but later she was assassinated by her own bodyguard. Angela Merkel is the first female chancellor of Germany and was also awarded doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986. There are many influential women in history who have changed the world and are fighting for their rights, across the world.
Priya Singh @Samacharline