“ Opting Out” challenging Stereotypes and Creating Real Options for Women

1. “Opting Out” challenging Stereotypes and Creating Real Options for Women Pamela Stone Hunter College & Graduate Center City University of New York Presentation prepared for the Conference on Women in Leadership Sponsored by the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education & Psychology Omni Hotel, Los Angeles, CA March 13, 2014

2. optintransitive verb \ˈäpt\ : to make a choice; especially : to decide in favor of something. op·tionnoun \ˈäp-shən\ : 1: an act of choosing 2a : the power or right to choose : freedom of choice opt outintransitive verb : to choose not to participate in something —often used with of <opted out of the project> Courtesy of Merriam-Webster

3. Women’s Representation in the Professions and in Leadership Positions (%) Sources: Catalyst 2012; Association of American Medical Colleges 2012

4. High-Achieving Women’s Time Out of Career 20% 40% Sources: Reimers & Stone 2008; Hewlett & Luce 2005; Goldin & Katz 2008

6. Myth #1 They’re traditional.

7. I always assumed that I was going to work when I had children and I didn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t. --Marina, 43, former health care executive

8. There’sthis perception that women who stay at home are empty and all they do is country club and manicure and all that. That’s the image you have of at-home mothers when you’re a working woman. --Meg, 41, former trader

9. I find it extremely hard on my self-esteem and my ego. People ask you “What do you do?” --Rachel, 40, former trader

10. It was like all of a sudden I didn’t exist. You know, six months ago I was working in the U.S. Attorney’s office and my name was in the New York Times. Now I’m nobody. --Maeve, 52, former lawyer

11. Myth #2 They’re not competent —or ambitious.

12. Interviewees’ Education Source: Stone 2007

13. Myth #3 They quit because of family.

14. I lied! “Oh, I’m not unhappy with my job, it’s because of the baby.” Trudy, 42, former IT manager

15. The high-tech work week is really 60 hours, not 40. Nobody works 9-to-5 any more. --Nathalie, 39, former marketing executive

16. There’s no overtime pay. I would have been in a position where I might be “working 20 hours,” but really working 40. --Mirra, 37, former engineer

17. I just felt I would be a nobody if I quit. Well, I was sort of a nobody working [part-time] too. So, it was sort of, “Which nobody do you want to be?” --Patricia, 44, former marketing manager

18. Myth#4 They’ll only leave anyway.

19. On announcing I was pregnant, the expectation was “Baby—gone.” --Holly, 39, former publicist When you job share, you have MOMMY stamped in huge letters on your head. --Christine, 40, former marketing executive

20. I mean I started to hear through the rumor mill that they weren't counting on me coming back. According to a friend of mine who was very connected, and she said to me, "You know, the management really doesn't want to see you back.” --Nathalie, 39, former marketing executive

21. Myth #5 They work for bad companies.

23. Stages of Career Disengagement

24. The Next Stage: Re-Entry

25. Employment Outcomes: follow-up N = 30

26. Re-Entry and Redirection

27. N = 20

28. Where Would They Be Now?

29. optintransitive verb \ˈäpt\ : to make a choice; especially : to decide in favor of something. op·tionnoun \ˈäp-shən\ : 1: an act of choosing 2a : the power or right to choose : freedom of choice opt outintransitive verb : to choose not to participate in something —often used with of <opted out of the project> Courtesy of Merriam-Webster