We’re at the eve of a major U.S. political election. And while you may be getting ready for work, or have already started your coffee-fueled day frantically typing away at your computer, there is something much bigger that may be impacting your career. It’s whether you choose to vote or not, and how the simple act of voting can impact your career…
What do you mean, voting can impact my career? It’s not like it’s on my resume, or part of my performance review…
Ok, I get your drift….But let’s think about this…Back on August 18th, 1920, the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally allowed women to vote. Still, women, especially African-American women, faced a lot of resistance and scrutiny when trying to exercise their legal right to cast their ballots.That’s only less than a century ago, in the U.S! In countries like Saudi Arabia, women have only been allowed to vote since….2011! Yes, only five years ago…
Fast forward almost a century, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which prohibits gender-based wage discrimination between men and women performing jobs requiring the same level of skill and effort, was only passed in….2009! Which also means less than 10 years ago, it was legally ok to be paid less than your male counterpart for doing the exact same job! Sobering, isn’t it?
So, yes, voting will not be reflected on your resume or performance review…But the simple act of exercising a right so many women were deprived of for so long, while suffering from wage inequality, is also a powerful way to protect your own rights and career!
Exercising your right to vote is not about candidates, it’s about the platforms and laws that can push women’s careers forward, or on the flip side endanger the rights and aspirations of working women everywhere!
As a working woman, a mother, and an immigrant, I believe it to be so important to raise our voices, so as to send fundamental messages that can ripple through every woman’s life and work. Messages like these:
I have a voice, and I will use it.
I mean, one of the biggest obstacles we have as women, whether it’s in our careers or businesses, is having our voices heard. Most times, it’s a matter of opportunity, especially for women of color. Viola Davis said it so well in her historical Emmy speech in 2015, when stating that the only difference between women of color and other women is opportunity.
Any area women can use their voices in is one more area where our concerns are heard, respected and addressed. Especially when it comes to deciding what our futures as women will look like…Which takes me to my next point…
My future matters. And so does my children’s.
How our lives and careers are shaped depends on the people we choose to elect. It’s not just about electing a President, but also about the legal, economic and political day-to-day decisions made in the background. Those are the ones that really affect our daily lives and that of our families.
Your career/business/future, and that of your children, may very well be on the line.
I care about resolving the issues we face as women and people.
I get it… The political landscape is not always exactly appealing. Actually, many times, we may just want to shut off the TV and hunker down under our covers on Election Day.
But if anything, casting that ballot says “I care”, despite all the obstacles. And that alone can move things in the right direction…
Do you agree that voting has impacted your career as a working woman?
The Corporate Sis.
