User:Gabi Gatling/Women in Public Relations

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Women in Public Relations have been a minority in higher managerial roles since the beginning of the PR profession. Women who have positions of power can not only help influence public relations decision-making around policies, laws, and management, but they can also act as role models and mentors for younger women starting in the field. Women in Public Relations are often overlooked for leadership roles because a portion of society thinks we do not fit the mould of an “ideal leader.” Overcoming barriers such as salaries, gender equality emotional labour and gender equality, allow powerful women to achieve top positions.

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Although females dominate the field of public relations, the worry of work-life balance has hindered progress in advancement to female senior roles. While men are more likely to be in senior roles, making policy decisions, and that women tended to do both technical and management roles rather than moving from one to the other (Johnston, 2010). Women have been known to be emotional beings and the growth of the profession is likely due to the emotional labour required by the profession. “Although women represent two-thirds of the global PR industry, 78 percent of the CEOs in the top 30 PR agencies worldwide are men—and they also occupy 62 percent of seats at the PR boardroom table, the research reveals.” (Women in PR USA). Emotional labour needed for this profession can be defined as “the management of feeling to create a publicly observable facial and bodily display; emotional labour is sold for a wage and therefore has exchange value” (Johnston,2010).

The fight for senior positions, emotional labour, and pay equality is the main barrier presently for women leaders in the PR departments.