3 Compelling Reasons To Make Friends With Women You Work With
As women in today's society, we are taught to see each other as competition rather than allies, particularly in the workplace. We already get paid less than our male counterparts and seemingly receive fewer opportunities, so in order for us to get ahead and secure our success, we have to outshine the women next to us.
On top of that, we've heard all the horror stories from our friends about workplace friendships that have gone left.
However, building connections with other women at work can create the strongest network you will have in your career, and here are three key reasons why:
1.It helps to boost your earning potential.
According to the National Women's Law Center, on average a woman makes $0.80 for every dollar a man makes. However, the pay gap is much wider for women of color. A Black woman typically make $0.61 for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes, Native-American women only make $0.58 for every dollar, and Hispanic women only $0.53. Then even within the various ethnic groups, there can still be disparities in pay. Building relationships with other women at work where you can discuss compensation openly allows you to understand where your earnings rank in comparison to your counterparts, and whether or not you are being underpaid. They can also serve as allies/support when you are ready to make your case to management for increasing your salary to match theirs.
2.You learn the “unwritten rules” and which pitfalls to avoid.
When you're new to a company or a specific division, you don't have any knowledge of the culture, acceptable norms, the most difficult personalities to work with, and the overall management expectations. We all know that management may say something publicly, but anyone who's worked in corporate America can attest to the fact that women unfortunately aren't afforded the same liberties or leniency that men receive, nor are they taken as seriously. So having friends in the group can help you to gain the insight about what you may be getting yourself into and also share key advice to help you successfully navigate the new environment.
3.You develop an in-house support/motivational group!
GiphyNow this goes beyond pay equity or simply dealing with a new environment. These women can provide a listening ear and advice to help you work through challenging situations that you may be facing, as they probably have encountered something similar. They can share their subject matter expertise if you get stuck on a work task or project. In addition, should you find yourself experiencing traumatic situations, like sexual harassment or workplace bullying, these women can serve as necessary confidantes in advance of any HR discussions.
Furthermore, they can offer much-needed motivation. Whether they have achieved positions of leadership or can connect you with other women who have, you may now have the opportunity to form mentorships, where you can receive guidance on boosting your career and achieving your desired success. And when you are ready to pursue your next promotion, they can cheer you on and also serve as sounding boards to help ensure your proposal is airtight and will be received well.
Making friends with women at your workplace comes with major benefits. Outside of the above reasons, it also just makes work more fun! A coffee break or lunch date can go a long way in breaking up the workday's monotony or giving you an outlet to blow off steam.
But of course, this recommendation for creating these workplace friendships comes with a critical word of caution: While there is tremendous value in developing these relationships, it is important to note that you cannot make friends with everyone. Unfortunately, not all women have pure intentions and will gladly divulge your information if it suits their agenda or ambitions. Utilizing your power of discernment and taking time to feel out personalities prior to pursuing friendships can help to ensure that you are selecting the RIGHT women for your circle, women who are looking to help each other up instead of tear one another down.
For more information about Julia Rock, check out Rock Career Development or follow her on Instagram.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy