Editor’s Note: Every March we celebrate Women’s History Month, a month dedicated to honoring women’s contributions to American history. This year, we asked four Racers to share their thoughts on being a woman in the world today, including which women inspire them most and some of the challenges women continue to face.
Who is the most influential woman you know and how does she inspire you?
My mom is one of the most influential women in my life. She’s a testament to how consistency and discipline open doors for you. One of the things I admire most about her is how well she knows herself and her values. It’s that prioritization that allows her to put 100 percent into what she has pursued at each life stage: from being a collegiate athlete, to earning her master’s degree, to taking time off from her career to be a stay-at-home mom, to returning to work in public health to make a positive impact on her community.
What are some of the biggest challenges you think women face (or you have faced in the workplace)?
STEM fields are still male dominated: Women make up just 34 percent of the STEM workforce. Though the workplace is where the gender gap shows up, the cause starts far upstream. From unconscious bias to stereotypes, girls’ interest in math and science is shaped by their environment.
There feels like a dichotomy between being taken seriously and being feminine, especially when it comes to physical appearance at work. There’s a societal stereotype of what a woman in the boardroom looks like — a pantsuit comes to mind. There’s pressure that to be taken seriously, you have to present this neutral, more masculine appearance. I’m grateful to work in a creativity-driven industry where there’s room for authenticity in expressing yourself through your appearance.
What traits do the women in your family share? How have they informed your opinions of what women should be like?
Ambitious, creative, self-assured. I’m grateful to the women in my family for demonstrating that the only way women “should” be is in pursuit of what matters most to them.