Do women really want to be viewed as equals in the workplace? Sometimes I wonder.....

I attended an International Women's Day event today and drove out of the parking lot wondering.... Do women REALLY want equality in the workplace? Let me preface - this was a professional women's business event. After the event presentations today, I really do have to wonder if that's what women really want? An unpopular sentiment, I know, but let me explain:

One presenter spoke about the need for equality in the workplace only to close with a comment reminding women that, as women, we have the ability to leverage "touch" in the workplace with little risk of reprimand. She encouraged women to use this luxury to our advantage. A woman placing her hand on a colleague's shoulder or arm is readily acceptable in the workplace, whereas men now need to be super diligent NOT to engage in physical contact of any kind. Is this not a double standard, leveraged by women, in an attempt to level the playing field? Are women wanting the luxury of a different set of rules when it benefits them?

Later on, another speaker presented a truly inspiring (and wildly hilarious) topic on the nuances of women's communication. Her content was outstanding - relevant, relatable and backed by solid research. She was confident, engaging, entertaining and passionate! Her credentials are impeccable. My issue: her choice of attire was less than professional. I understand and appreciate individuality is "on trend" at the moment but showing up at business event in an outfit that was so outrageous it would turn heads at a New York City after-hours club, diminished her credibility and completely distracted from the content. As a Recruiter, I meet a lot of diverse people, so there is not much that surprises me, but this was over the top. It made it hard to take her, and by extension, women seriously. Is that how women want to be represented in the business world? I hope not!

So, my take-a-ways from this International Women's Day event are this:

1. There clearly are divergent views on how women can best position themselves in business.
2. It must be confusing for men to know if women really are serious about workplace equality.
3. There is still a lot of work to do..... on both sides!