Meeting November 3, 2021
This meeting we had guest speaker Allison Harrell join us to discuss being a woman in a predominantly male industry. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) at Thomas Howell Ferguson and is one of two female CPA's out of 10 total. Not only did she offer us tricks on how to navigate being a female in a male industry, but also provided some basic advice on being a woman in society.
Work Life Balance
Everybody has their own priorities! Some male counterparts may want to work full time and spend their free time at home, while some may want to work less to take care of their children or work more hours at night. Prioritize what works for you and figure out a schedule that balances sleep, eating, work, family/friends, and whatever hobbies you want to enjoy. Also, don't be scared to get rid of things that aren't fun for you.
An example of this that Allison gave us was housekeeping. Since she hates cleaning, she has gotten a housekeeper to clean the house every two weeks. Since doing this, she has been able to use the time she would've spent cleaning with her family or running other errands.
Men & Compartmentalizing
Allison discussed how women and men compartmentalize things differently.
An example on what this means:
Think of our (men and women) thought processes as a file cabinet. Work is one file drawer, school is another, family is another, etc. Men have the ability to close one file drawer and move on to the next. This means that when he is at home, he is able to focus on family and doesn't worry about work because he "closed" that thought process when he left the building. For women, we always have all of our file drawers open. When we are at work we think of family, or when we are at school we think of work. We lack the ability to be able to close a drawer and not stress about that topic.
*This is the case for MOST men/women, not ALL*
Essentially, both genders should emphasize with one another regarding this. Men should be aware that even at work women are stressing about their kids or mother, and that they lack the ability to close the thought. Women should also understand why a man is able to just close it out. Knowing this allows both sides to have an enjoyable work environment.
Being a woman is HARD!
Women, typically, are in charge of many things that get swept under the rug. If they have children, providing a Christmas experience, making their lunches, having birthday parties, etc. are all (typically) expected for mothers to provide. Even birthday/christmas gifts for relatives is put on our shoulders as we get older. Doing this while being a working mom is tough, and most men aren't aware of it. Don't beat yourself up over not filling the expectation of being a perfect mom, coworker, wife, etc. when many things are on your plate. You're trying your best!
Also, many women come into their fields of work expecting to match their male coworkers or "prove" themselves to the company. That's not necessary! Take your time, and if it takes 5 years as opposed to 5 months to show your worth, it's okay! You're taking your time and growing at your own speed.
It should also be said to leave a company if they aren't treating you right. If the company is not fulfilling or respecting your needs, find a new job that will. It isn't worth it to suffer in an environment not made for you.
Thank you Allison Harrell for coming to speak with us! We learned a lot, and it helps to know some tips for if you're entering a similar workforce.