SAELESE HAYNES
Women often find themselves balancing multiple roles and responsibilities, not only in their personal lives but also in the professional sphere.
This balancing act can be particularly challenging, as societal expectations and norms sometimes limit our ability to fully explore our potential.
Little girls are still told that they should be seen and not heard, and in many traditionally male-dominated sectors, women are equally condemned for speaking out or for not speaking up for themselves.
At university, I was told as a "joke" that it made more sense to allow the men in our class to do better than the ladies, as women would eventually give up their legal careers to go off and have babies.
For AFETT’s Women of Influence Awards and Mentorship event on March 27 at Queen's Hall, I love that there was interest from the audience on both ends of the gender equity scale.
How can women support men while still branching out into our own space? How can men support women in achieving gender equilibrium? Both are fantastic topics to explore.
These questions are not just about finding a balance between supporting our partners while pursuing our own goals; it is also about challenging traditional gender roles and fostering a culture of mutual support and empowerment.
Open, effective communication channels
In a personal setting, one way we can support our partners while still exploring our own prospects is by fostering open and honest communication.
This means having conversations with our partners about our goals, aspirations and the support we need to achieve them. By being transparent about our ambitions, we can create a supportive environment with shared accountability where both partners feel empowered to pursue their dreams.
[caption id="attachment_1075031" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Panellists at AFETT's Women of Influence Awards and Mentorship event explore the topic of inclusivity on March 27 at Queen's Hall. Photo courtesy AFETT -[/caption]
Set boundaries
Another important aspect of supporting our partners in an equitable manner is setting boundaries both internally and externally for the relationship.
It is essential to establish clear boundaries between our personal and professional lives, ensuring that we have the time and space to pursue our goals while still being there for our partners.
As a multi-hyphenate woman in business, in corporate as well as a wife and mother, I’ve become an absolute boundary bruja in terms of enforcing the limits that I set for sharing up of my time.
Enforcing boundaries may require us to delegate tasks, say no to additional responsibilities or seek support from friends and family.
Additionally, it's crucial to prioritise self-care and personal development.
On a societal scale, both genders play crucial roles in ensuring that they can each make strides in supporting empowerment and gender equity.
Allyship can look like:
– Education: Partners can educate themselves about the challenges that their counterparts face in society, incl
