Caution: Women at work

We've all heard about the glass ceiling and the failed sexual harassment court cases. But what truly stands in the way between your miserable entry-level paycheck and that one gratifying step up the ladder? We asked around and turns out, real women hardly see the challenges in black and white. 

Today more than ever, there is an impressive number of female higher-ups in the usually male-dominated corporate industry. While certainly refreshing, this change is accompanied by the pressure for a new shift in cultural perceptions. Women's dreams are no longer limited to securing independence or landing a job. As Lubna Sharmin, an educator for the past seven years, puts it, "The young women in our country not only dream about working in a reputed country. They dream about having companies of their own."  The reactions of families, peers and the community as a whole continue to pose problems. Women constantly question themselves – How do I balance my work life and personal life? How do I meet expectations the expectations of my family?

In Bangladesh, women's participation and professional careers are limited by social obstacles such as raising children, taking care of elderly parents, working odd hours, and providing the kind of commitment required in a competitive world. Needless to say, females face more disapproval from home when it comes to matter of working overtime, taking a trip out of town, etc. "Extreme work pressure for which it is difficult to maintain a work life balance is the main challenge I've had to face. I've had to put in late hours and come in even during weekends. However, the environment in this industry is extremely friendly and safe which helps," says Oditi Shirleen Mostafa, a Senior Executive in Brand Communication at an advertising agency.

While it is true that in many offices, women are scrutinised much harsher than their male counterparts, Tanzila Tajreen feels quite the opposite. "I think woman are responsible for their disparity. Now this may sound very conservative, but I feel that women have to appreciate themselves as a confident personal. In Bangladesh, women are gradually becoming equally successful as men in many fields. I think with proper institution women would learn to appreciate themselves and make better progress," says Tanzila, a Program Coordinator for the Market Development Forum. Instead, Tanzila feels the main challenge she's faced was actually getting the proper exposure for work that she'd designed from scratch.

In an article in Business Standard, Vinita Bali, the managing director of Britannia Industries, expressed her views of working in a male-dominated industry. "We talk about it so much we make it bigger than what it is,"she says. Women need to take up a vigorous and vocal stance in defending themselves at home. In South Asia, women can join the workplace in their own terms. But according to writer Olinda Hassan,  "Modern women in the region do not need to act like the stereotypical male banker to advance their careers." Networking and working hard, however, are inevitable.