I observed male mentors closely throughout
How they commanded respect, had clout
From the moment they walked into a room
I would imitate them, thinking one day I would bloom
Into a successful professional, I would project
The same confidence, get the same respect
From my team members and peers
I would never let anyone notice my fears..
*
It did not take me long to realize things would not
Work out in my career the way I had thought
The confidence that was perceived in men as a trait positive
Was perceived as bossiness, I was deemed too aggressive
My assertiveness was challenged at every stage
Such differences initially left me outraged
Until I realized that irrespective of reasons I could not be
Like the successful men, nor did I need necessarily
To emulate them, I had to carve a path of my own
Using my strengths, some of which could be attributed alone
To my being a woman, to be successful I had to use
Different sets of tools, much I could lose
In trying to be “like the men”- I had to find
Success using my (woman’s) heart and mind
Passion...unbridled 
Annoying and empowering at the same time. We all have traditionally perceived masculine and feminine traits, and a good balance of both is always required for optimal leadership and interpersonal success. It’s just that overtly ‘feminine’ traits are discouraged in men, and ‘masculine’ the same in women. *sigh* soooooo exasperatingly outdated, this stagnant status quo! I won’t say ‘burn it down,’ but seriously, we need to break it open and release the best of us all. Enough with the stiflig already!
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