I started off #womenshistorymonth in #Tennessee speaking to undergrads at College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University to a room full of students of color. Just also had a conversation with Elizabeth Elfenbein, founder of Under the Sisterhood, on what it is like to be a woman who does not fit into boxes and the risk of being mislabeled. I am open that, despite seeking neurocogntive testing to better understand my brain, I have no label . That said, I often find myself a bit different from the mean, more of an outlier. In my case, I can turn that into a strength. Many others end up only marginalized when they are at the edges of a group.
At Tenn Tech I stayed the full day I also got to hear from leaders addressing student questions on dealing with #impostersyndrome or when you are the only Black person or POC in a room. I heard realistic responses given that it is a source of pressure, yes. If you don't show up or show up late or have any error, people notice and then they may generalize what they observe in you to your whole race or community.
We can talk about #growthmindset and #failure, but in fact, plenty of people observing us with not share that #mindset and *are* going to judge negatively. When you are the "only one" you carry the whole community on your shoulders and become a mascot, which can dehumanize and turn you into a symbol rather than allowed to be a full human, with flaws and with learning needs.
Also, as I started to grow in confidence as a #leader and seek to be a #changeagent, then, increasingly and at a faster rate, ran into walls of the system, it caused me to think differently about my role as a #pediatrician, focused on #childsafety, but also enforcing rules on others. I realized I was at risk of harming or separating families. I thought of myself as being in a caring role but I was also in a policing role. What were my own biases and wrong assumptions on race or other factors that I needed to examine?
My early life and career I was "good" - "good daughter" and "model minority" - which is what allows me now to do #disruptiveinnovation in #womenshealth. I also am of an ethnicity that is perceived "smart" as compared to other identities that are wrongly labeled differently from how I get labeled. Too often, though, if we give advice, especially to children of color, to be fully comfortable with themselves and show up as their full #authentic selves, they may get negatively labeled or policed. We have to be nuanced and realistic about the different ways people are received in certain spaces.
So let's stop behaving.
The phrase Laurel Thatcher Ulrich coined in 1976 encourages women to challenge societal norms, break barriers, and make a lasting impact by stepping outside traditional roles. As Women's History Month approaches, the call is to encourage women to embrace their voices, take bold actions, and pursue their goals fearlessly. It's a rallying cry to reject conformity, challenge stereotypes, and contribute to history by making significant and positive changes.
The message is one of empowerment, urging women to be agents of change, express their uniqueness, and leave a mark on the world through their actions and accomplishments.
#WomenLead #womerock #underthesisterhood #WomensHistoryMonth #womenmakinghistory #LaurelThatcherUlrich
CFO at Monogram Foods
2moThank you, Monogram Foods and Memphis Business Journal, for the kind recognition and for your support of the Memphis business community!