Breaking the glass ceiling

I saw the documentary on the life of the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, on CNN. The story of her climb to the vice presidency is truly inspiring. It is incredible that a woman of color would be the first woman to become the second highest official of a powerful country. However, from what I gathered from the documentary, she had achieved many firsts in her illustrious career, allowing her to break that glass ceiling many times over.

In our country, I am proud that there is no lack of women who are able to shatter glass ceilings. We have had two woman presidents, and that alone is more than enough proof that what men can do, we women can do, too—often even better. Women are just as capable as men, and in any field we set our sights on. We may have to work a bit harder than men to prove that we can do the job, but a capable and determined woman is more than equal to her male counterpart.

In my time in the 1970s, women were already career-oriented. Although I got married a year after graduating from college, I was already working then for the Department of Foreign Affairs, in the department’s satellite office in Cebu where I met my husband to-be. A couple of years after our marriage, my husband got assigned to the Philippine consulate in Hamburg, Germany. I was grateful that even in Germany, I found work in an English bank, The Standard and Chartered Bank, Hamburg.

It was truly a gratifying feeling to be able to help my husband financially, and more importantly for me, to be able to afford my own needs and wants. After we came back from Germany, I was lucky to get into Philippine Airlines, and through the company’s travel benefits, we had the opportunity to travel almost every year. Now, even in retirement, the hubby and I can still avail ourselves of this lifetime travel benefit.

But this is not about me, and sadly, I couldn’t qualify for the distinction of having been able to shatter the glass ceiling; the women who have successfully done it are a class of their own. I have only admiration, and sometimes awe, at what they have been able to accomplish. It is never easy for a woman to prove her worth in a still male-dominated society, not just in our country but also in many places worldwide. It is thus that much more awe-inspiring for these women to be able to reach the pinnacle of their respective careers.

What I find even more-awe-inspiring about these women is their ability to strike a balance between home and work. I think of this kind of woman as a “superwoman,” because she is able to juggle adroitly the arduous requirements of home and career. The hubby and I are childless, so personally for me, such accomplishment is extraordinary. When it comes to problems of managing both a household and a career, I am sorry to say that men rarely have this kind of predicament in the course of their careers. It is the women who usually confront this difficulty, and yet a determined woman could rise above all the challenges. It is much more admirable if her man is there to support her, and is confident enough of his worth not to feel insecure over her success. It is a happy note that the men behind many glass-ceiling-breaking women are usually supportive.

I’ve always been for women empowerment, rooting for women who are able to break away from a woman’s traditional role. It doesn’t mean, however, that being a housewife is not as fulfilling, because I also know of countless women who are that, and yet lead fulfilled lives. They chose to stay at home and concentrate on their family, but are still able to cultivate their varied interests outside of home, their experiences serving as sources of continuous learning for them. These stay-at-home women can also be an inspiration for young women of today.

I suppose I am one of those stay-at-home women, especially now that I am a retiree. Even if I am in the afternoon stage of my life, I believe that there is still so much I can learn while at the same time striving to make a difference, no matter how small. It has been said that this is how to live your best life, and I quite agree. This being Women’s Month, I am reminded of how we have come a long way. But still, there is so much more we can accomplish. I believe that an empowered woman will always be an asset everywhere.

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Marilyn Duterte Oppus, 71, lives in Barangay Poblacion, Baclayon, Bohol.