Challenges Female Leaders Face And How To Overcome Them

Today, there are still many hurdles that prevent women from achieving the same level of success as their male counterparts. These range from unequal pay and workforce discrimination to internalized sexism, but all have the same effect of holding women back in business.

A PewResearch study on gender inequality in the workplace revealed that in 2020, one in four women said that they received lower compensation compared to male employees in the same position. And on average, women still make only 84% of what men make. Additionally, two out of every five women said that they experienced gender-based discrimination in their workplace.

Despite these realities, it is still possible –– arguably more so than ever before –– for women to succeed as leaders. Though navigating a landscape that favors men is difficult, succeeding as a female leader means having more power to break down the barriers that hold other women back. To help you toward this kind of position and power, this post will identify some of the most common challenges female leaders encounter, and what they can do to overcome them.

Unequal Pay

When it comes to external challenges such as unequal pay, the onus is still on organizational authorities to enforce fair policies. However, that doesn’t mean that individuals have no power to boost their own compensation. As explained in an LHH article on the gender pay gap in the finance industry in particular, one of the best things you can do to ensure the success of your future pay negotiations is to make your achievements visible to higher-ups. That means asking for frequent performance feedback and seeking credit for work-related accomplishments.

LHH also recommends networking with influential people within the organization. Through this process, women can gain more opportunities to participate in high-profile projects, which will, in turn, help them prove their worth.

Workplace Discrimination

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its June 2020 amendment, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against any employee based on their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, or national origin. It is also illegal for employers to punish their employees for reporting or standing up against discrimination. Recognizing these rights can help you protect yourself should you ever experience workplace discrimination.

If you are in fact a victim of workplace sexism, you can issue complaints to your organization’s HR department. Should the incidents continue or escalate, you can also file a formal complaint to a relevant government agency, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or your state’s fair employment agency.

Outside of filing reports, female leaders can also combat workplace sexism by building stronger connections with other women in the workplace. Having the support of a network can make it easier to stand up against systemic discrimination.

Internalized Sexism

Our recent post on the “Traits Of The Top Leaders In The World” noted that confidence is key to succeeding in the workplace. Unfortunately, however, many women have absorbed the sexism of their environments and internalized negative beliefs about themselves –– and thus lack confidence in their abilities.

When facing negative thoughts about yourself, try to stop and reflect. Assess whether you are being fair to yourself. A PsychCentral piece on cognitive distortions and negative thinking recommends depersonalizing incidents of failure; don’t interpret your failures as reflections of your worth or abilities, in other words, but instead as products of your efforts and circumstances at the time. For example, if you had one bad presentation, don’t think of yourself as a bad presenter (and definitely don’t assume that you’ve fortified any negative impression of women as presenters). Instead, analyze how your circumstances and efforts led to that product, and figure out how you can fix it the next time around.

When it comes to gender equality, the average American workplace still has a long way to go. Fortunately, there are still ways women can combat this issue and ultimately achieve success as leaders –– bettering their own situations and those of generations of women to come.

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