ARLENE’S MUSINGS
“CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL: From A Baby Boomer Women’s Perspective”
When I first started working in the “Corporate World”, after a seven year hiatus from school teaching which I spent raising my two sons, I was actually told during my first year Performance Review that “I smiled too much” and therefore would not be taken seriously in the workplace. Imagine my reaction to that comment as I had been so proud of my smile and had garnered great recognition for always being so pleasant and happy. In fact, when I was five years old a neighbor had nicknamed me “Smiley”..
This was my introduction to the corporate world of work dominated by a male orientation which defined acceptable/professional behavior for women.  Another example of this male-dominated culture was the “Dress for Success” philosophy we were teaching women in the workplace at that time. Simulate the way the men dressed, wear un-needed eye glasses to be taken more seriously and absolutely no feminine ruffles.  
Thus, we have come a long way baby from the business world of the 1980’s. Of course, it was way more sexist in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, when you wouldn’t get hired at all or accepted to medical school. Or is it???
The recent viral conversation triggered by the Atlantic magazine article by Ann-Marie Slaughter, former State Department Official for Hillary Clinton and currently a Princeton Professor,  “ WHY WOMEN  STILL CANT HAVE IT ALL?” prompted the following observations:
1. There seems to be a definite generational difference in women’s attitudes from 
“WE WILL GIVE IT THE COLLEGE TRY”, to “YES WE CAN, BY GOLLY” (The Superwomen Syndrome), to “THIS ISN’T FAIR” to “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”
2. Young women today are searching for a career-life model to live by and of, course, there is not one.
Do you start a career and take a leave to raise your children? Do you postpone having a family   to forward your career? Do you raise your family first and then start a career in your 40’s. Of course, there are stellar examples of women following each model and also many pros and cons and consequences for each.
3. What about the issue of equal pay if we do commit to the workplace?  We have gone from making 63 cents on the dollar to 70 cents on the dollar.
4. If you are searching for “Balance” is there really such a thing? 
5. Can we deny that as women, we are “caregivers” and feel a responsibility to our families first? Should we? The examples of women who have done this successfully admittedly have had to rely on supportive husbands and/or nannies. (So, have they really done it?)
6. One writer suggests that we need to have more women in power to change the work rules to accommodate family issues and needs. Is that the answer?
7. Do we even want to HAVE IT ALL?
8. Should we each define for ourselves what it means to HAVE IT ALL?
AS BABY BOOMER WOMEN, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION.