“I am a working mother / business owner with two young sons and this is a way for me to support girls! It’s important to me that my boys see positive examples of strong women and equal partnerships at home and in the workplace. The biggest workplace struggle I see for women is whether and how to work and have children. Workplaces are changing but not fast enough. Mandatory paid maternity leave, subsidized childcare and more flexible schedules are necessary to promote gender equality, address poverty and empower women. Ultimately, I watch women work harder to achieve the same things as male counterparts…and then go home to work more.
The older I get, the more I notice subtle gender discrimination where women are put in positions where they are consistently second guessing whether they are too aggressive or too apologetic, or whether they can laugh off an inappropriate remark or should call the person out. These lines we walk sometimes inform our success or effectiveness because of cultural expectations. We need to change those. It’s amazing to see the natural confidence in little girls. Then, they hit 12 years of age and ambition and outspokenness are discouraged and seen as “too aggressive.” Yet, these qualities are often positives for men. I am always re-learning to be direct with my language because ultimately, it should be about embracing your authentic self and being true to that. That is my hope for all New Mexico women and girls” –Kate Ferlic
Kate Ferlic, founding partner at the Santa Fe law firm, Egolf + Ferlic + Day, is Taking a Stand because there should be no barriers to achieving big dreams! This fall NMW.O is celebrating our community partners around the state — the passionate and committed people who invest in New Mexican women and girls. This portion of our Take a Stand campaign foregrounds the dreams and visions that we hold for women and girls in New Mexico, with the intention of raising awareness about issues that impact them. We are proud and grateful to work with and feature our powerful partners who are Taking a Stand for New Mexico’s women and girls and supporting this work statewide!