A monologue which involved America Ferreira’s character speaking candidly about the nature of being a woman hit a raw nerve for many across the world. This ‘paradox’ being the societal pressure for women to be paradoxical entities; confident but not a show-off, thin but not too skinny, to be a ‘girl boss’ but not too bossy.

Paradoxes have characterised the female experience for decades, and this is made more complex when translated to the pressures of being a female leader. For example, studies show that women are less likely than men to apply to job roles where they don’t fit every criterion in a job description. Professional women are also more likely to have imposter syndrome and alter their communication style to appear more enthusiastic or accommodating in emails.

Read more at: https://www.hrgrapevine.com/content/article/2023-09-05-we-need-to-welcome-femininity-into-leadership