Can women have it all? It's a question that has been asked time and again, and one that is particularly relevant to women in the arts. Balancing work and family can be difficult for anyone, but for women in the arts, it can be even harder.
There are a number of reasons why women in the arts may find it difficult to balance work and family. First, the arts are often not seen as a "serious" profession, and so women in the arts may not have the same level of support from family and friends as women in other professions. Second, the arts can be a very demanding profession, requiring long hours and often unpredictable schedules. This can make it difficult for women in the arts to plan for and manage family responsibilities.
Finally, the arts can be a very competitive field, and women in the arts may feel pressure to sacrifice their personal lives in order to succeed professionally.
The great imbalance
Women and men start life on the same par, same pre-school and same primary schooling, yet at some point one is expected to relinquish their ambition for family. Meanwhile, the education system doesn't prepare woman for the process of giving up their dreams.
Actually, the opposite is true - the modern woman is made to believe she can have it all. But when it comes to balancing a successful career with a family, something has to give. And all too often, it is the woman's career that suffers.
There are a number of reasons why women find it difficult to maintain a successful career while also raising a family. The first is that they are simply not prepared for it. From a young age, girls are told that they can have it all - they can be successful in their careers and have a family life too. But the reality is that it is very difficult to achieve both.
It all boils down to who we want to be as professionals, mothers and social contributors. As women, at some point, we have to step back and evaluate what works for us, what's more important to us. The balance of becoming a good professional needs us to choose the right kind of partner, but the decision whether it's worth the sacrifice is ours.
The process of changing culture takes time and we might want to brace ourselves as men and women evolve towards the accommodation of women owning what they want. But have the courage and heart to ask for what you want.
