“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” –Sheryl Sandberg
As a woman, I who can’t wait til that future is here.
The Female Quotient’s LinkedIn post of Ms. Sandberg’s quote was accompanied with this question “When will the term ‘female leaders’ finally become obsolete?”
Translation: what must happen to create the future, the future of leadership, I want to see and hopefully live in. Here are my immediate responses:
It will require that females of all races/ethnicities and other identity intersections (ability, religion, etc,) are in positions of leadership. Otherwise the headline changes from fist female leader to first African Ameican, Hispanic, Asian or Latin American female leader.
Also, female workplace accommodations like lactation rooms have to become as common place as restrooms and attention must be given to design and placement.
It will involve the normalizing gender equality such as paternity leave. Men supported and taking time off at the birth and other critical stages in their children lives as it meets the values and needs of their family. Family leave without career derailment.
The term ‘female leaders’ will become obsolete when we use the gender based equity research to identify what needs to be done (solutions), plan (how and when), and implement those plans.
The Michigan Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) & Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (BWLAM) are looking for All Michigan Lawyers who want to work on the solution in 2021.
It’s time to talk about and create the future.
Inspiring Minds 