How are women “doers” and what does it do to my value if I let go of that mindset? I was recently asked this question based on my statement that women are “doers.” I never want to speak for a group of individuals in totality because I realize identity is more than a singular grouping, and each person identifies within a group differently. But I do feel that women have been given a different value currency than men in the workplace. And a lot of that has to do with the way we view their acts of "doing."
When assessing women’s roles across various cultures, there is a common element of “doing” that exists. Historically, in a traditional American culture, women used to be the ones who stayed home with children. Their "doing" consisted of domestic duties, child rearing, and maybe some sort of community involvement. The currency for this work was typically non-monetary. In African cultures, the historical "doing" -I say historical to give credit to the changing attitudes regarding gender roles and sexuality in Africa- was deeply tied to the gathering duties, or agricultural work. Planting and harvesting crops, processing, and preparing food, gathering water, etc., are some examples of the tasks performed. The currency for this work was non-monetary but still important- sustenance. Men oversaw the sale, distribution, and money associated with crops.
This is a similar scenario in many cultures from a historical standpoint- women performing activities that traditionally yield a non-monetary currency. Throughout history, women’s rights have evolved, lifting restrictions on what woman can do and opening doors for them. The American culture looks different today. More and more members of households share the domestic tasks equally, regardless of gender identity. And they share the financial burden of supporting their households. But the value currency assigned to women continues to lag and has yet to reach that equivalent to men. While we may have evolved beyond trying to define a “traditional" structure in the home, we have yet to carry that evolution of thought into the organizations employing these women.