Comments on: The Myth of the Opt-Out Revolution Among Professional Women http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/ The Glass Hammer is an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law and business. Visit us daily to discover issues that matter, share experiences, and plan networking, your career and your life. Get a new job right here! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:51:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Most Offensive http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1398 Most Offensive Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:25:04 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1398 I'm going to come at this from a slightly different perspective... When someone "opts out," there is that decision at the moment that depends on circumstantial factors like workplace environment, husband's salary, possibility for career advancement, location etc. BUT, there is also the question of opting out in advance- deciding before you have even pursued a career in finance or law before you have gotten married, that you would like to opt out. Doesn't anyone remember this famous article? http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/national/20women.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=emily%20lechner&st=cse&oref=slogin I’m going to come at this from a slightly different perspective…

When someone “opts out,” there is that decision at the moment that depends on circumstantial factors like workplace environment, husband’s salary, possibility for career advancement, location etc.

BUT, there is also the question of opting out in advance- deciding before you have even pursued a career in finance or law before you have gotten married, that you would like to opt out.

Doesn’t anyone remember this famous article?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/national/20women.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=emily%20lechner&st=cse&oref=slogin

]]> By: Sharon http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1334 Sharon Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:35:04 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1334 Many years ago, I began working in a law office at age 15, later became a legal secretary, then a paralegal. After graduating from college and a brief stint as a manager I went back to school for a JD-MBA. I did well and was hired at a large S.F. law firm but after four years I was frustrated with sexual harassment and lack of ability to transfer to other practice areas in the firm. I tried small firm practice, and then left the legal profession. I enjoyed the work. I enjoyed the clients. I enjoyed the physical space of the office. The mostly male environment, workload and "politics" was awful. That was 20 years ago. I've had my family, been through the divorce, sustained myself by teaching children and adults, among other things, am healthy and happy, and I would like to practice law again. I went back for an LL.M. last year, did well, and, at age 57, am unemployed. It is distressing to read and hear that the situation in large law firms and other professional positions for women is still so difficult. One reason I always THOUGHT I could just go back any time I wanted was because I worked in so many offices where there were 80-year-old men. I thought law was the perfect career for longevity. In any event, no one can ever "take away" my education. Still seeking my next big thing. Many years ago, I began working in a law office at age 15, later became a legal secretary, then a paralegal. After graduating from college and a brief stint as a manager I went back to school for a JD-MBA. I did well and was hired at a large S.F. law firm but after four years I was frustrated with sexual harassment and lack of ability to transfer to other practice areas in the firm. I tried small firm practice, and then left the legal profession.

I enjoyed the work. I enjoyed the clients. I enjoyed the physical space of the office. The mostly male environment, workload and “politics” was awful. That was 20 years ago.

I’ve had my family, been through the divorce, sustained myself by teaching children and adults, among other things, am healthy and happy, and I would like to practice law again. I went back for an LL.M. last year, did well, and, at age 57, am unemployed.

It is distressing to read and hear that the situation in large law firms and other professional positions for women is still so difficult. One reason I always THOUGHT I could just go back any time I wanted was because I worked in so many offices where there were 80-year-old men. I thought law was the perfect career for longevity. In any event, no one can ever “take away” my education.

Still seeking my next big thing.

]]> By: Kathleen Wiant http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1324 Kathleen Wiant Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:17:23 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1324 Work needs to change in two significant ways: 1. Women need to be able to off-ramp and on-ramp, (meaning exiting and reentering the workforce) at the different stages of their career, based on the needs of their family at that time. Work needs to provide opportunities for woman to off-ramp and on-ramp. 2. Women need more flextime work arrangements made available to them. Flextime is any work arrangement, full or part time, that is not a typical Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 schedule. Right now, if a woman wants a flexible or flextime job, she often has to accept a position beneath her skill set. Women need to be able to obtain flextime jobs that allow them to put their education and experience to work while at the same time, still being able to meet the needs of her family. Work needs to provide more flextime work arrangements. What if this happened? What if women had more opportunities to on-ramp, off-ramp and work flextime jobs? Would this all be fixed and just go away? It wouldn’t. As with all things in life, we are our own worst critic. Not only does work need to change, but so does our perceptive of working moms. As a society, our mindset needs to change. It’s often believed that the concept of a working mom and that of a good mom are mutually exclusive. We need to come to the realization that a mother can work, and still be an excellent mother. Work needs to change in two significant ways:

1. Women need to be able to off-ramp and on-ramp, (meaning exiting and reentering the workforce) at the different stages of their career, based on the needs of their family at that time. Work needs to provide opportunities for woman to off-ramp and on-ramp.

2. Women need more flextime work arrangements made available to them. Flextime is any work arrangement, full or part time, that is not a typical Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 schedule. Right now, if a woman wants a flexible or flextime job, she often has to accept a position beneath her skill set. Women need to be able to obtain flextime jobs that allow them to put their education and experience to work while at the same time, still being able to meet the needs of her family. Work needs to provide more flextime work arrangements.

What if this happened? What if women had more opportunities to on-ramp, off-ramp and work flextime jobs? Would this all be fixed and just go away? It wouldn’t. As with all things in life, we are our own worst critic. Not only does work need to change, but so does our perceptive of working moms. As a society, our mindset needs to change. It’s often believed that the concept of a working mom and that of a good mom are mutually exclusive. We need to come to the realization that a mother can work, and still be an excellent mother.

]]> By: Corporette.com · Corporette http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1316 Corporette.com · Corporette Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:59:30 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1316 [...] - The Glass Hammer examines the myth of the “opt-out revolution.” [...] [...] – The Glass Hammer examines the myth of the “opt-out revolution.” [...]

]]> By: GenderSmart Solutions » Blog Archive » Professional women - hit harder by recessions http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1315 GenderSmart Solutions » Blog Archive » Professional women - hit harder by recessions Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:22:47 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1315 [...] Full posting [...] [...] Full posting [...]

]]> By: nicki http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1314 nicki Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:27:34 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1314 the workplace is built around "norms" or values that were designed in the 1950's around the stepford model of all "good" women being stay at home mothers and wives. The model has not changed , many headhunters do not offer up people with a career gap on their resume- its a problem, not for the recruitment companies but for the firms themselves as they are losing out on talent. The system is changing due to both genders in the next generation not wanting to be cublicle slaves. hooray. the rest of us (anyone over 25 ) have to keep proving that we can do the job better than any man and find mentors and advocates who have the ability to put a good word in for us. read Why women mean business - Cox and Maitland. Some companies are really on this stuff and are recognising that women/people's brain's dont actually turn to jello if they take time out for kids/elder care/ hobbies. the workplace is built around “norms” or values that were designed in the 1950’s around the stepford model of all “good” women being stay at home mothers and wives. The model has not changed , many headhunters do not offer up people with a career gap on their resume- its a problem, not for the recruitment companies but for the firms themselves as they are losing out on talent. The system is changing due to both genders in the next generation not wanting to be cublicle slaves. hooray. the rest of us (anyone over 25 ) have to keep proving that we can do the job better than any man and find mentors and advocates who have the ability to put a good word in for us.

read Why women mean business – Cox and Maitland.
Some companies are really on this stuff and are recognising that women/people’s brain’s dont actually turn to jello if they take time out for kids/elder care/ hobbies.

]]> By: robin http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/comment-page-1/#comment-1313 robin Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:45:08 +0000 http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/07/31/the-myth-of-the-opt-out-revolution-among-professional-women/#comment-1313 I would opt out if I could, but like many I do not have the financial back from a partner, so it is not an option. I fear, taking even the shortest of mat leaves as it seems to portray the wrong message and prevent future advancements(this I see all too often); and I have no clue how women take a couple years off and re enter the work force at anything but a low level position, I have rarely if ever seen a women come back at her old level. I see that I have 2 choices, kids or a career. I would opt out if I could, but like many I do not have the financial back from a partner, so it is not an option. I fear, taking even the shortest of mat leaves as it seems to portray the wrong message and prevent future advancements(this I see all too often); and I have no clue how women take a couple years off and re enter the work force at anything but a low level position, I have rarely if ever seen a women come back at her old level.
I see that I have 2 choices, kids or a career.

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