How do gender constructs and biases affect women in business and leadership? What tools does Sheryl Sandberg offer in Lean In to help women succeed in the workplace?

     Women are socialized to be caregivers and mild-mannered beginning in childhood, toys marketed to little girls include princess dress-up sets and babydolls so they can practice their "mommy skills". Boys are encouraged to get messy and take risks, being pushed towards HotWheels and motorbikes, giving men the advantage as adults to be primely socialized with the belief they can safely take risks and advocated for themselves. While women are taught to care for others and ridiculed when they focus on their needs, men are applauded when they prioritize their needs and goals over others.
     Women and men in the workplace are portrayed in drastically different ways in modern culture, "The stereotype of a working woman is rarely attractive. Popular culture has long portrayed successful working women as so consumed by their careers that they have no personal life. If a female character divides her time between work and family, she is almost always harried and guilt ridden"(Sandberg, pg. 22, 2013).
     The success of women in the workplace is contingent upon creating more opportunities for women to share their opinions and ideas within their companies. Often, women assume they won't be heard or taken seriously, which discourages them from speaking up and taking risks altogether. Sandberg refers to this as the ambition gap, women are out performing men academically but due to the lack of support and quality mentorship opportunities in most industries they don't have the confidence to aim for senior positions.
     Women must take a seat at the table and go against everything we have been taught since childhood. It is ok to be assertive, especially if our thoughts and ideas are likely to have a positive impact on our company, and worplace community as a whole. That is how we make change, one small change at a time.