Do men really rule the world?

I was reading a very interesting article this morning which appeared on the bbc webpage under the business section. The COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, recently spoke to the all female students of Barnard University in New York. The basic summary was down to one question: "What if half the men in the world ran households and half the women ran companies?" Her answer, which may be mistaken for a joke just like her question rings true for me "The world would be a better place".

I was mighty impressed with the article and the speech given by probably one of the most powerful women under 45 in the World. Her speech which was peppered with her own experiences in an all male technology and IT sector rings close to home for most of us women who are working probably twice as hard for as much recognition.

In India it gets tougher. Markets may have opened up and we may be all about the "new young India" but most of it seems directed towards the male population of this country. How many women reach or manage to reach the senior management in this country? How many have the support of their families to such an extent that they can take 5 days off suddenly to travel for work without the guilt of leaving their home, kids, etc. behind. I doubt it if men really come home and seek permission to do the same?

It is sad that even at the work place women still struggle. Companies talk of giving equal opportunities but can look at an unmarried woman in her late 20s with skepticism. The "golf club" rarely allows women into it. Try joining them and you may be looked at as an outcast and it will take you forever to break the ice and get them to talk to you they probably will with your all male PA.

Of course this isn't the case everywhere. My previous employer had a practically all female marketing team across every one of the offices and regions...which was unique and phenomenal. It wasn't a planned effort or idea either, it just happens that they are willing to hire intelligent women,single or not without looking at them as "female" and rather as smart individuals who suit the role and the job!

But I am hopeful.With many young women like me entering the workforce and changing things, I hope that soon the cultural dynamic will change. That the very idea or thought of "men ruling the world" will cometo an end. It will then be an equal opportunity working world!

Read Links: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/18/technology/sandberg_barnard/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin