Whenever International Women’s Day approaches, the Indian media showers loads and loads of praises through press ads, TV commercials, video content, etc. on how they have made the world a better place. Well, some of them speak the truth, and some exaggerate, just for the sake of enhancing brand visibility which might backfire in many ways later. This article elaborates on how women, apart from all this stereotypical perceptions, are changing the world at home and in the corporate world. This Women’s Day, let’s give them what they truly deserve – a ‘Work-life’ balance that they seek.
P.S. This is not an ad for any brand, but an ode to all the women we know who work day in and day out to strike that perfect balance between work and life.
Juggling Roles & Responsibilities
Not trying to be too biased, but most women across the world have this never-ending challenge of juggling multiple roles and responsibilities at home and at work. Be it from the beginning of the day preparing meals to preparing presentations for client meetings, employee burnout has been a universal issue, regardless of gender. In most cases, this passes off as an elusive concept, a myth.
It goes without saying that this perception needs to change and advertising is the most impactful way how that can happen. Yes, storytelling is a powerful tool, but as advertisers, we need to measure our words and actions when it comes to women. Take the Tanishq commercials for instance. Though the intention of the advertiser was to promote progressive thinking, it received quite a backlash for focusing on one particular community. Also, the recent initiative by BCCI promoting WPL (Women’s Premier League) makes sure that women in sports receive equal prominence as men’s cricket. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. How else can women be the game-changers and change the perception of who is an ideal homemaker?
Shaping Future & Perceptions
One of the biggest support systems for any woman is her family and spouse. Society is shaped majorly by how these two entities react to women with ambitions. When women are surrounded by supportive friends and family, they can very well change the world, quite literally. Breaking the stereotypes, and changing the age-old perceptions of what an ideal woman should be or do for life, are all the basic necessities to survive in today’s male-dominated world.
On the corporate front, women who outperform men as seen as a threat more than as a strength. They quickly become a liability and are reminded of who they are and where they need to be, but some exceptional, dauntless women are determined to change their perception, hold their ground and command their thoughts through actions and that’s how we’re seeing a new generation of women who are taking leadership positions in today’s corporate world.
Healthy Work-Life Balance
So, there’s no turning back and once women have become a part of the system, they need to find their own way to survive the unforgiving torrential challenges coming their way. Here are some points to ponder upon and consider to bring that ‘Work-Life’ balance:
Breaks are essential: Yes, have a break. Have a KitKat! Advertisements have been showing women as hamsters (metaphorically) running endlessly in the ring of life. Sometimes, you need to just stop, rest, recharge and lead.
You need your ‘me-time’: Women have always been pushed into taking roles they may or may not be interested in, to serve the interests of the whole family, and the whole company, except her own. That’s why you deserve to have your ‘me-time’ as much as you need to keep you going.
Plan the day out: It gets quite chaotic for any individual when there are too many things to do and too little time. Prioritizing what needs to be done first and what can wait, will impact a lot on your health and productivity.
There’s no standard rule: What works for you as a mother, may not work for you as a boss. So, it is your job to create a system that helps you manage both of your duties without any glitches.
Women’s Day is not just about celebrating women, but also about making them a part of the system that needs to be changed. Bringing about a balance in their ‘work-life’ should not just be celebrated, but it should be a norm.
At 3 Dots Design Pvt. Ltd., we believe that women play an important role throughout our lives and they need to be given respect and importance where it’s due. Being one of the best ad agencies in Pune, we have a team of well-experienced content writers, graphic designers, brand managers and digital experts with women across departments taking up prominent roles. If you wish to know more about who we are or what we do, please visit www.3dotsdesign.in or get in touch with us at [email protected]