Why Women Feel Undervalued

[00:00:00] Welcome to Mindset Growth Podcast. I am your host Mallika Murali and today we are exploring

[00:00:08] a topic that resonates deeply with many women across the globe. Why women often feel undervalued?

[00:00:18] This is a complex issue influenced by various factors from societal norms to workplace dynamics.

[00:00:25] So grab your favorite drink, sit back and let us unpack this together.

[00:00:32] To understand why women feel undervalued we first need to consider the historical context.

[00:00:39] For centuries women were relegated to the private sphere expected to fulfill roles as homemakers

[00:00:46] and caregivers. Although we have made significant strides towards gender equality the remnants

[00:00:53] of these traditional roles still linger. This history has laid the foundation for many

[00:01:00] of the issues we see today. Even today women continue to face significant barriers in the

[00:01:07] workplace. One of the most glaring issues is the gender pay gap. Women on average earn

[00:01:15] less than men for the same work and this disparity is even more pronounced for women

[00:01:22] of color. This is not just about the numbers it is about the message it sends that women's

[00:01:29] work is less valuable. Imagine working just as hard or even harder than your male colleagues

[00:01:38] yet receiving less recognition and compensation. It is demoralizing and can lead to a deep

[00:01:45] sense of undervaluation.

[00:01:48] Another critical factor contributing to the feeling of being undervalued is the lack of

[00:01:54] representation in leadership roles. Despite women making up a significant portion of the

[00:02:01] workforce they are often underrepresented in top positions. This underrepresentation

[00:02:08] can make it seem like the upper echelons of power and decision making are not accessible

[00:02:14] to women. When you do not see people like yourself in leadership roles it can be hard

[00:02:21] to imagine yourself in those positions leading to feelings of inadequacy and undervaluation.

[00:02:30] The issue of emotional labor is another aspect that cannot be overlooked. Emotional labor

[00:02:37] includes tasks like organizing office events, taking notes in meetings and mediating conflicts.

[00:02:47] These tasks though essential are often undervalued and go unrecognized. Women frequently find

[00:02:56] themselves taking on these roles which can be incredibly taxing. This additional invisible

[00:03:04] workload can lead to burnout and a sense that their contributions are not truly valued.

[00:03:12] Let us not forget the impact of societal expectations and media representation. Women are often

[00:03:22] bombarded with conflicting messages about who they should be and how they should behave.

[00:03:28] From a young age girls are exposed to images and narratives that often reinforce stereotypes.

[00:03:37] This can lead to internalized beliefs about their own value and potential. The lack of

[00:03:44] diverse and empowering representations of women in media further exacerbates this issue.

[00:03:52] When society constantly tells women they need to look a certain way, act a certain way and

[00:04:00] fit into a specific mold it is no wonder many feel undervalued. Workplace culture also

[00:04:09] plays a significant role. In many environments there is an unspoken expectation for women

[00:04:17] to adhere to certain behaviors. Assertive women are often labeled as aggressive while

[00:04:25] their male counterparts are seen as strong leaders. Women who speak up about their achievements

[00:04:33] may be perceived as boastful while men are considered confident. These double standards

[00:04:41] can make it challenging for women to advocate for themselves and feel genuinely valued.

[00:04:49] Another contributing factor is the lack of mentorship and sponsorship for women. Mentorship

[00:04:56] provides guidance, support and advice which are crucial for career advancement. Sponsorship

[00:05:04] on the other hand involves senior leaders advocating for their protégés providing them

[00:05:12] with opportunities to showcase their talents. Without these support systems women may struggle

[00:05:19] to navigate their careers and feel undervalued in the process. So what can we do about

[00:05:27] it? How can we create environments where women feel valued and respected? First, organizations

[00:05:38] need to take a proactive approach. This includes implementing policies that promote

[00:05:45] pay equity, offering mentorship programs and actively working to eliminate unconscious

[00:05:52] bias. It is also crucial for leaders to recognize and value the emotional labor that women contribute.

[00:06:04] By creating a culture of inclusivity and respect, organizations can help ensure that everyone

[00:06:12] feels valued. On an individual level women can benefit from building strong support

[00:06:20] networks and seeking out mentors who can advocate for them. Self-advocacy is also important.

[00:06:30] Women should feel empowered to speak up about their achievements and negotiate for what they

[00:06:36] deserve. Additionally, educating oneself about gender biases and learning strategies

[00:06:43] to combat them can be empowering. On a societal level, education is key. We need to teach the

[00:06:53] next generation about gender equality and the importance of valuing everyone's contributions.

[00:07:01] Challenging stereotypes and promoting diverse representations of women in all areas of

[00:07:07] life will also help shift societal perceptions. In conclusion, feeling undervalued is a multifaceted

[00:07:18] issue with deep roots and wide-reaching implications. But with continued effort and

[00:07:26] commitment we can create a world where everyone's contributions are valued equally. Thank you

[00:07:34] for joining me on this important discussion. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe,

[00:07:40] leave us a review and share it with your friends. Together we can make a difference.

[00:07:46] This is Mallika Murli signing off from Mindset Growth. Until next time, stay curious and

[00:07:53] stay informed.