Women Leaders Must Support Each Other - Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation - page 146

Do You “Want” to Join the Team?
Many women do not necessarily want to be identified as a member of the team
as they relate such actions to reasons ranging from a belief that it will damage
their careers to the mindset that it's not necessary and quite frankly a waste of
time. If you're somewhere along this continuum I challenge you to reconsider
your position and ask yourself if you are letting fear be the barrier to your will-
ingness to be on the team. Evans outlines common fears and the associated
realities that women impact women's interest in joining the team [5] . I have
adapted these “fears” to be inclusive of additional issues (fears) among women
from ethnically different backgrounds.
Fear #1: If you join that women's organization in your company, you'll be seen
as an old-fashioned feminista.
Reality #1: Feminist isn't an ugly word or a bad word. Women have allowed
men, religion, and society to define too many words for us and when we're not
engaged in the establishment of a definition we lose. Consider the term aggres-
sive - when used to describe a man it's a favorable connotation, and on the
contrary when it's used to describe a woman it's almost exclusively a negative
characterization. According to Webster's dictionary, feminism is the concept
that women should have political, economic, and social rights equal to those of
men. Feminism is a good word. It's about doing what's right and fair. Period.
Fear #2: By joining the women's team, you will have to sacrifice your indi-
viduality.
Reality #2: As women we like to see ourselves as unique, interesting, and
unusual and these qualities make us attractive as individuals to our partners and
society. They do not lead to a strong team spirit. Each member brings a unique
talent to the team that should be appreciated, utilized, and engaged as necessary
for the benefit of the team.
Fear #3: The idea of being on a team scares you.
Reality #3 : Maybe you're a former “cheerleader,” or the idea of a man's defini-
tion for team is what's concerning you. The male teams are generally character-
ized by a tough leader who commands through strict rules no individuality or
shifting situations as this is believed to be what's necessary to win. I love the
stories my husband Michael shares about his days of football at Alabama State
University where he was captain of the team in his senior year. I have laughed
for years at his recounting of various times on the football team, including
Coach Scott's insistence on running the same play (of course, I always assume
it was working) in a game. When he tells the story, he changes his voice to mock
his revered Coach Scott. Coach would stand close to the team, have them gather
around and state with total coolness and clarity “We're going to run the same
damn play.” And run the same damn play they did!
This mindset can be difficult for women as we're constantly adapting,
adjusting, and revising to accommodate the dynamic nature of our professional