Please note: this transcript is not 100% accurate.
Dr. Meenal Agarwal 0:00
We as women sometimes think we have to do everything all at once. Because that’s just the way it is. That’s the way we’re built. But we don’t. This is Dr. Meenal and welcome to Uncover Your Eyes, where we uncover reality. As a mom and eye doctor, I want to know it all. It’s 2024. And women are still struggling to achieve the same status, the same positions and just be at the same level as men. Really, it’s 2024. Even in healthcare when applying to jobs, at clinics, at hospitals, there’s still that underlying sense of do you have a family? Will you have a family? Are you married? Do you have a partner? Where do you live? These are all underlying thoughts of employers, always still 2024 This is something I have faced my whole life. And I still face, I still face the facts, that I have to work twice as hard for the same positions or the same opportunities as my counterparts why I as a woman can actually do it all. I am achieving the same opportunities as my counterparts while having a family while having three kids and while maintaining hopefully my health and my wellness. Is that not enough? Apparently not. I know so many of you are probably experiencing the same situations, day to day, where you’re not valued as much as your counterparts, or you’re not seen in the same way, simply because you’re a woman. add color to it, and it’s it’s over. Right still. So what are things that I feel really helped me achieve what I wanted to achieve throughout my years as an optometrist, being authentic, being authentic, is easier than not being yourself. It just comes naturally, right? And you know what being authentic may not get you somewhere or get you that position, or get you those opportunities right away. The being authentic, is definitely something that you can sustain, and will eventually come out. And people will actually see you as your authentic self. Being vulnerable. You know, we always try to hide our vulnerabilities. We’re always nervous about them, embarrassed of them, we feel their stigmas. But you know what I did as well, I’m not going to, I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t. But over the years, I’ve learned that these vulnerabilities are the reason I’m here today, these vulnerabilities made me who I am made me stronger, as a person, as a woman. And so if these vulnerabilities can become my strength, then why can I show the world what my vulnerabilities are? Recently, I interacted with the CEO of a big company in our field. And she said to me, the main leaders in her position who work under her when she has board meetings are all men. And so recently, there was a big dilemma at their company. And she said, you know, women, the couple of women that there were we’re working very hard at trying to solve the dilemma, getting stressed out, staying overnight trying to figure things out, and the men were casually going home coming back in the morning, and just casual about it knowing that everyone else would figure it out. And she said to me, that that’s when it occurred to her. She needs to change the way she thinks she needs to think like the men in order to maintain her well being and maintain her health. We as women sometimes think we have to do everything all at once. Because that’s just the way it is. That’s the way we’re built. But we don’t. So you know what? I think as women, we now instead of fighting the men, we need to be like the men. And that’s something I learned that that’s okay. I may not get that opportunity or I may not get that job. But I want to be like the men. I’m going to not answer those emails right away. I’m not going to do those things. things right away, I’m not going to feel the same pressure and stress that we feel as women all the time. And I can still be the CEO of a company. And if you’re feeling low as a woman, just remember, I have three kids, I run three practices. And I tried to do everything at home and everything at work. And I’m still looked at as less than my counterparts at times, I’m still looked at, as she has a family. So she may not be able to do this. As time goes on, I feel that more and more people in our industry are starting to respect women, for being leaders in healthcare and leaders in our spaces. You know, as you go on social media or go to conferences, you see more and more women making contributions as researchers, as presenters as speakers. And it’s, it’s phenomenal that some of them are even influencers as doctors, and they’re influencing people to make changes in their lives. That’s huge. So tell me, how much more do I need to do? And do you need to do to prove to the world or prove to your profession, that you are just as good as your counterparts? How many more social media videos do we need to post? How many more articles do we need to publish? How many more events do we need to speak at? So I don’t know why. Because it’s 2024. And we really, really need to shift our mentality to understanding that we’re all equal. And hey, now men always help around the house, right? Things have changed. It’s not that traditional gender role where men were not helping in the house at all, and they were just working all day. Now men are equally helping, they’re helping with your kids, they’re helping with organizing the house, they’re helping with maintaining the house, they’re helping with cooking, they’re helping with cleaning. So if times have changed with that, I think perspectives can change on women in the workplace. And people can start separating the fact that we’re women, and start only looking at us in terms of our abilities, and our strengths. So really, this message is for everyone in the workplace, if you’re looking to hire a woman, or looking at a woman for an opportunity that you have, don’t think twice anymore. And let’s face it, gender bias is in every profession. So it’s really up to us how we react and how we face it. So go in with the attitude when you’re applying for that job. Or you’re seeking that opportunity that you are not less than any other person and put your best foot forward. And you never know you may get it. And I’m gonna have to say I’m a proud woman, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Because I am that person that is able to handle everything. I’m able to manage my household, be able to manage work, and be able to manage my well being my mental and physical health. Only a woman can do all of those things. And again, it’s 2024. So let’s face it, we’re the best. Thank you, listeners and viewers, for tuning in. If you want to catch more episodes of Uncover Your Eyes, make sure to Follow or Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube. To learn more about me, follow me on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal. Until next time, keep those eyes uncovered!