Jin Li Frick
As a follow up on my blog, Interpretation of Power, I had the opportunity to learn how my peers interpret power in women at a seminar in Los Angeles over this past weekend.
I related my encounter with the male individual who had interpreted 'power' in women as an aggressive force marked by the innate ability to deceive, manipulate, control and coerce. I also shared that this individual went so far as to suggest that educated women were especially manipulative.
My peers expressed surprise that this kind of belief system still existed in our society today. One of my peers observed that is was an archaic (1950's) way of thinking and wondered if there was something more to this individual's limiting beliefs, which may certainly be the case - a past hurt or a bitter disappointment that he hasn't released and continues to negatively influence his thinking.
Accessing our higher consciousness I believe we can agree that women who embody power today are not about to storm the castle and take it down. To that end I did have the pleasure to ask my peers to define what a "powerful woman" is and here is a snapshot of some of the words they used:
Thank you ladies and gents who shared your thoughts with me! These are just a few descriptions and I invite readers to add their definitions.
I also wished to share an inspiration from the September 2009 issue of O, Oprah Winfrey Magazine: "8 Ways of Looking at Power." Happy reading!
I related my encounter with the male individual who had interpreted 'power' in women as an aggressive force marked by the innate ability to deceive, manipulate, control and coerce. I also shared that this individual went so far as to suggest that educated women were especially manipulative.
My peers expressed surprise that this kind of belief system still existed in our society today. One of my peers observed that is was an archaic (1950's) way of thinking and wondered if there was something more to this individual's limiting beliefs, which may certainly be the case - a past hurt or a bitter disappointment that he hasn't released and continues to negatively influence his thinking.
Accessing our higher consciousness I believe we can agree that women who embody power today are not about to storm the castle and take it down. To that end I did have the pleasure to ask my peers to define what a "powerful woman" is and here is a snapshot of some of the words they used:
- Decisive and action oriented
- Grace under stress
- Influential
- Inner strength
- Multi-tasker/Juggler
- Leader
- Communicator
- Collaborator
- Dignified
- Emotional intelligence
Thank you ladies and gents who shared your thoughts with me! These are just a few descriptions and I invite readers to add their definitions.
I also wished to share an inspiration from the September 2009 issue of O, Oprah Winfrey Magazine: "8 Ways of Looking at Power." Happy reading!
RSS Feed