Women and leadership roles

Abstract

Indian Women and Indian society as a whole has moved from well-entrenched gender-centric roles, (where Man was considered the leader and provider and Woman the idealised deity, but submissive and subservient in day to day matters), to today s revolutionary thinking that is emerging, partly due to education and western influences, where roles are not stereotyped by gender and allow men to recognise their feminity and women their masculanity. This transformation is far from complete; however important beginnings have been made particularly in large metropolitan cities in tomorrow s industries where enabling technologies have brought dramatic changes in terms of creating virtual work spaces. The paper discusses the experiences of the participants at home and at work place. The shift in mindsets of people and society have contributed to a lot of positivity in terms of women s acceptance as capable, hardworking and committed professionals and individuals. On the other hand they did feel that there was a constant pressure to perform and prove themselves at work place and simultaneously, a constant feeling of guilt and anger in coping up with expectations of children and in-laws respectively at the home-front. They were indeed successful in striking a balance between home and work and in doing so not many had managed to take leadership positions which was still very much considered a man s domain.