By DONNA SCHAIBLEY
State Representative
Throughout Women’s History Month, we reflect and commemorate the legacies of women who came before us and who paved a way for more females to be leaders and have a voice in their communities. While we have made great strides in ensuring women have a seat at the table and in the board room, we can do better.
Women bring another perspective to a wide range of issues, and in order to continue honoring those who helped break down barriers, we must step outside our comfort zones and continue pushing forward.
It’s hard to believe that just over 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote. While this may seem like a lifetime ago, only a few generations of Hoosier women have been able to exercise this precious right. Ratifying the 19th Amendment was a substantial step forward to ensure women could make their voices heard at the ballot box. This pivotal change also helped break down barriers for us to lead in our communities or hold public office.
Whether it is running for an elected position, taking on a leadership role at work, or starting a business, more women should pursue these valuable opportunities.
In 2015, Eli Lilly noticed a dramatic shortage of women in leadership roles even though its workforce is split evenly among sexes. This discovery showed women only held about 20 percent of top-level positions. Since then, the pharmaceutical company has developed tactics to empower more women to take on these roles, but there are ways for us to take action on our own.
Throughout my career as a legislator, I have noticed that many women feel this intense pressure to be perfect, which oftentimes leads to them not pursuing certain opportunities.
A Hewlett-Packard study on internal hiring practices found that men often apply for a job when they only meet 60 percent of the qualifications. This is compared to women, who typically only apply when they meet 100 percent of them.
Whether they do not feel comfortable in public speaking, networking or in any other skill that might be needed for a position, these are skills that can be learned and developed with determination and persistence. By stepping up to be a leader in our community or work place, we have a chance to be role models for young women just as the brave women before us who helped make these opportunities possible.
Springtime is considered to be a time of renewal and a chance to reflect on where we’ve been and how far we still have to go in our journey. Let’s use this time to reignite our drive to continue empowering women to be leaders in every facet of their lives. We have made tremendous strides throughout modern history, but it is up us to ensure we continue making progress, breaking down barriers for future generations.
If you have any input about how I can better serve you as your state representative, feel free to contact my office at H24@iga.in.gov.
State Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel) represents House District 24, which includes portions of Boone and Hamilton counties.