Many people long to achieve high levels of achievement, and to improve the quality of their lives. Although it is typical to link success with men, today it is understood that success is also a goal for women.
In today's society, despite the increasing equality, the roles of men and women are often differentiated, despite the fact that today, more and more, women participate in activities previously seen as exclusively masculine. The physical and attitudinal tendencies, the upbringing and the socialization are generating distinctive nuances, which lead the man to develop a practical, logical, autonomous and competitive attitude, and the women to be docile, accommodating, obedient, emotional and passive. For him, the street; for her, the house. He, to achieve objectives; her, to support him. He commands; she obeys. Perhaps because of these ritualized styles, men developed the ability to achieve socially recognized goals more, much more than most women.
Some studies on the subject reveal that Western women, especially Latinas, show low self-esteem, fear of competitiveness and success, and fear of the world of work and business, scenarios that they perceive as alien to their traditional habitat: the home, the children, the family. Likewise, entering professional spaces is stressful, since it increases obligations and demands control of their own lives. This marks a break from the pattern of expecting some man to guard and maintain them. Although it is clear that many women feel fulfilled as mothers or wives, although the significant value of these roles is rarely recognized.
Esther Vílar, a student of the feminine theme, has said that women who do not improve themselves, are the ones who dream of a savior who will rescue them, maintain them and save them the effort of working, since it is much easier and more comfortable to dedicate time to to look pretty, to be good and accommodating, to help man achieve his dreams and win his approval, even though they must sacrifice themselves to a great extent.
In their book "Success is also for women", Margarita Hernández and Dolores Riva Palacio analyze the relationship "woman-success", understanding success as the sustained capacity to obtain tangible and socially recognizable achievements. These authors consider it necessary to overcome what has come to be known as "the Cinderella Complex", a mental scheme of apparently cultural origin, according to which many women wait for a prince charming to rescue them, and avoid participating in the demands of the world social, which would force them to prepare, take risks, make decisions, face what they will say, and stay away from family hours.
Many women think that success and social competitiveness are not compatible with the feminine nature. Some are ashamed to show ambition and blame themselves when they leave their children at home to go to work. They hesitate whether to take “home or street”, to take on the hard and routine work of the house or to launch into the world and venture to find a place, a productive status and the recognition of job success.
There is a growing trend of cases of women trying to do everything at once, that is, attending double work-home days, which often leads to experiences of stress and illness.
The solution to this situation requires understanding that in order to transcend material and emotional limitations, it is necessary to develop genuine self-confidence, define objectives, plan strategies, act, compete, show tenacity, display a socially attractive image, and optimize persuasive skills. A complex task, not an easy one.
Internally, it is necessary to overcome guilt for not being at home and for ambition more, and learn to find and choose male partners who support rather than block openness to work. Likewise, dependency and comfort should be overcome, and efforts, education, questioning the traditional messages that take away her freedom and condemn her to be what she is not. You must follow your own interests and not those of others.
For Hernández and Riva Palacio, each woman must be reborn within her, rebel against the unique role of a submissive and dependent housewife, and understand that she can define her life, control her time and live as it suits and satisfies her. You must fight for your success, without expecting saviors or sacrificing your dignity. For this, you must ask yourself: What success do I want? Where I can find it? What can I do to achieve this? Only in this way, by reviewing and challenging their mental schemes, will they be able to obtain a place more in accordance with their infinite talents and possibilities, to be finally free, capable and successful. Thanks for reading me.
