What has prompted my thoughts in this area is the recent Christine Holgate situation. I don’t know her, have never recruited for her or her businesses, but I feel for her. I am not referring to what she has ‘done’ but rather the treatment towards her and the media’s perception. Would it be different, ‘if I was a man’? My heart and mind say yes, it is likely.

Of course, I am a feminist, but I don’t jump on bandwagons – in fact, I am often suspicious of them – do their actions support their cause or the opposite? I love being female, a woman, and all the things that go with that, especially the spirit and energy of what feminine power can represent.

Still, I regularly question all policies, decisions made in the guise of ‘promoting females’, for I fear we often do ourselves an injustice with some of the envelopes we push. There are some doubts and questions I regularly grapple with. For example, I am not sure I agree with all instances of gender quotas – I agree with the reason and the benefit, but there are some situations where I don’t believe it’s always appropriate. I share this view of mine with you purely to show that my other belief of ‘if I was a man’ is balanced and is not one-eyed in pushing an agenda.

It’s certainly my reality and truth of, ‘if I was a man’, and I believe it’s the reality for many females, especially in a male-dominated field or industry. Is it any wonder females shy away from leadership roles when this occurs?

This time last year (April 2020), let’s not forget the controversial exit of ex-CEO of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle. There are many more of these instances – they are just not as high profile as these two ladies. So, we don’t ‘hear’, and we are not aware. The fact that we don’t know about it, doesn’t mean is not happening.

While on this topic, and to throw another counter and delicate thought out there – as females, do we always support other females? I am not so sure. At a superficial level…. if any of you remember the old ‘Survivor’ episodes – I am struggling to recall one female that supported another female all the way through. Yet, time after time, the males on the show did this for each other.

The good thing is the world is changing rapidly. In so many ways, we depend on each other much more than before, no matter our gender. So how about, instead, we just support each other…as fellow humans.

In case you are interested, some of my other favourite lyrics from the song are;

“I’d be a fearless leader, I’d be an alpha type, When everyone believes ya. What’s that like?

I’m so sick of running as fast I can, Wondering if I’d get there quicker

If I was a man

They’d say I hustled, Put in the work, They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve”

Resonating for anyone else? ?

Thank you for indulging me; next week will be back to normal!

“Women hold up half the sky.” — Chinese proverb