You know, I have this issue with the women returning to the workforce thing. Well, for one, no women ever left the workforce - they are always working. Its just that some women, at some juncture of their lives, chose a different path of career. It is fine if they leave their corporate careers for something else at another office, as long as it is NOT at home. When a woman decides to leave the office to be at home, it is a big NO-NO and gosh, we must help her return to the workforce!! I dont get it. Someone actually asked me in my face when I told them I left my career as an engineer of 8 yrs to be with my children: Would you have left if you had a good caretaker for your children?. I looked at her and firmly said YES. In fact, I told her, I had a very good maid with me. She didnt get it. Anyway, my point is - there has to be a better KPI than this percentage of women in top management role to measure the contribution of women to the nation. (maybe there is but I am ignorant of it, so pls enlighten me) Many women that I know who left the workforce to be at home, have now become successful entrepreneurs and educators. They dont need to return to the workforce because they hv created their own corporation and are very good in what they do. Take me for example. If I had stayed in the workforce, I would probably be a manager in some technical-related company, with a steady pay check at the end of the month. Maybe a nicer house (or more) and nicer car(s). Yet I chose a different path, and 12 yrs later, I am now a writer whose (one and only) book has gone to places which I myself have not been too, a CEO of two companies, Pengerusi of an NGO for children, leader of a team of entrepreneurs, sometimes teacher, sometimes speaker and everything in between, been on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers. I still live in the same house for 14 yrs, pay check not so fat (and not so steady), but a life full of passion. I know a lot of women can achieve this too. Unfortunately they are given the impression that leaving their current work to be at home is a bad decision. A decision that even if they take, they should consider returning back as soon as they can. Why cant we support them and guide them to discover their true PASSION and POTENTIAL? They can do a lot more to the nation if they are given the relevant support, not just training for the sake of having them or what is dictated to them. As much as we provide the support to women in the workforce, and women who are entrepreneurs, we should also provide the support to women who decided to choose home as their new workplace and have Nation Building Director as their new title. Stop looking at them as if they had no choice.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:12:10 +0000
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