Growing Your Own…

One of the Dolls–accomplished, beautiful, successful, all of the things–wants to vent. Yay. Who doesn’t love a good vent?

As one does, I pry for more. Turns out, our Doll discovers that a coveted job is inhabited by a guy she knows. Good for him, I guess. The punchline–our girl did not apply for the job because she was sure she did not measure up. The guy is no more qualified than she, no more experienced, and certainly not as well-dressed or fun. I don’t even know him–I hate him already.

She is beating herself up knowing she and said guy are the same, and yet, it did not occur to her to even apply. She figured another ten years of experience was probably in order. Closer examination reveals that said guy even lags behind our wonder girl.

A recent study shows that given a job description, women will apply only if they meet all of the criteria. For men, it hovers at around 50 percent. Seems the guys take job requirements as guidelines, while women take them as required qualifications to even secure an interview. There’s also the fact that guys feel better about their accomplishments, regardless of size. True more often than not, non? Further, the study actually shows men in low-level application pools are even more likely to apply. Women opt out, unknowingly participating in an even larger gender pay gap and seniority.

Turns out the boys are generally more confident that they can succeed in any role, regardless of suggested qualification criteria. All this, and they still can’t get their clothes to the hamper?

It’s not a hate on boys. It’s a: How is our Doll, so qualified, a leader amongst her peers, with accomplishments most of us won’t see in a lifetime, not applying for a position tailored to her skillset because an arbitrary, antiquated belief system has taught her she must bring perfection to the job before she even walks in the door?

Unfortunately, it does not change with age. The number of times this girl has poo-pooed an opportunity with “I can’t do that,” or “I’m too old to start that,” is countless.

Determined, a solution is concocted. Grow a pair. Moving forward, we are reaching for every opportunity. Girlfriend has the opportunity to speak with a mover and shaker next week. She plans to tell him that she’s interested in an upcoming slot. We vow to be the 50 percenters, without apology. We pledge to grasp the cavalier attitude and brag (gasp) at our accomplishments.

I saw her yesterday. “How’s your ball growth?” says she. Looking down, I laugh, “Nothing there yet.”

What about you, my dears?