Mu19: Are women's sacrifices at work worthy?

(Por Cary Pérez Waulk) In the past, I have not done much thinking about International Women´s Day, founded in 1977 by the United Nations. To me everyday is Women´s Day. For women in journalism in the United States the celebrations of life are many, but so are the challenges they face.
One of the most pressing issues in the life of women journalists is the balance between responsibilities to their families and to their work. Some newsrooms are understaffed creating long hours at the office. Sometimes women in news must take work home, which negatively impacts the amount of time spent caring for children, elderly parents, husbands, even on themselves. These women value and affirm their commitment to journalism, but with what words can they approach their supervisors to find common ground and understanding in desiring more balance in their lives?
Maybe one place to start is for women to define what success means to them and how they fit into the definition of a successful employee within their company. They must examine what relationships matter most and reflect on whether the demands at work are worth the sacrifices, and ultimately on what is the true purpose of their lives.

Cary Pérez Waulk es coordinadora de seminarios en The Poynter Institute, de Florida, EE.UU.