Previous to 1954, it was believed to be physically impossible to run the mile in under 4 minutes. When Roger Bannister broke that barrier, several other athletes realized the possibility and they also did so within a few months.
It was not a physical limitation; it was a psychological one. Once one person did it, it opened the door for many others to improve the record.
Last weekend we witnessed a new era of tennis being ushered in as Coco Gauff took the title at the #USOPEN in Flushing Meadows. On hand to congratulate her was the person who is not only the namesake for the tennis center where Coco won, but also the woman who created the possibility for female tennis players to be paid equal to their male counterparts, Billie Jean King.
While Serena and Venus paved the way a generation before her, Coco’s win reminds us of all kinds of possibilities. The possibility that a teenager could beat the number 1 women’s tennis player; the possibility that African American women can flourish in a traditionally white tennis world; the possibility that women’s tennis could be more popular than men’s (Coco’s match had + 1 million more viewers than the men’s final the next day).
None of this happens without the chance to step up to the plate, or in this case, onto the court.
The same is true in business and politics.
Similar to Roger Bannister’s time, if we can’t see the possibilities, it’s difficult to achieve them. 2023 heralded new heights for women as female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies, with 10% of the companies being led by women. While this shift represents an 18% growth from 1 year previous (Fortune, 2023), it still feels way too low. In Congress, female representation has grown from under 20 in 1977, to 128 today. The possibilities are growing.
It is not that long ago in our history that women’s rights and autonomy were severely restricted. When Sherry Essig started a part-time job in the credit department at Sears in 1974, the Equal Credit Opportunities had just recently passed in Congress. This act prevented discrimination based on gender and women came in droves to Sherry's window looking to establish credit for the first time in their lives.
In the 1960’s the pill was made available but it took supreme court cases in 1965 for a married woman to access the pill without her husband’s consent and in 1972 for single women to access it. The pill and a woman’s right to choose created more possibilities for women as they had more control over their bodies, but there were still forces trying to limit access.
Coco Gauff dominating tennis and women in leadership growing helps little girls and young women see possibilities for themselves. However, we still have so far to go, and it sometimes feels like we take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. When I watched the Barbie movie earlier this summer, one of the most pivotal scenes was when Barbie and Ken first arrived in the “real world” she almost instantly felt uncomfortable. Ken, on the other hand, instantly felt admired.
This is the proverbial frog in the pot.
Some states are restricting women’s access to health care and globally it is estimated it will take 286 years to close the gender gaps in legal protections for women and girls (Human Rights Watch). Perhaps we won’t know we are starting to boil until it is too late.
On the podcast this week, we talk about women's rights, books and movies we are watching on this topic, and the very real fear we are moving backward, possibly in response to some advances women are experiencing.
It is going to take all of us, vigilantly paying attention to what is happening, celebrating wins, and fighting restrictions to keep a positive momentum. Please listen in here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WoJONofU8IV4759ypIuuk or wherever you listen to podcasts.
What are you listening to, watching, and celebrating?
Anyone up for some tennis? I’ll see you on the court…and in the boardroom.
