What does it take to be a successful woman?
As well as dancing at the Pink Pony Club, singer Chappell Roan is known for being outspoken when it comes to people respecting her boundaries.
Not only has the 26-year-old previously discussed the "creepy behaviour" of some fans on social media – who allegedly stalked her and her family and turned abusive when she refused to pose for selfies with them – she also called out a paparazzi on the red carpet of Olivia Rodrigo’s tour movie GUTS, following an alleged altercation with him at the VMAs the month before.
"You were so disrespectful to me at the VMAs," she said to the photographer in a now-viral clip. "You yelled at me at the VMAs. Yes, you did. I remember. You were so rude to me. And I deserve an apology for that. You need to apologise to me."
So, too, did she get into hot water over her lack of public endorsement for a presidential candidate in the lead-up to the 2024 US election, forcing her to clarify her stance against Donald Trump and the right – but to also cement her belief that Kamala Harris didn’t warrant her full backing.
Although she eventually confirmed she would be voting for Harris, Roan also stated that "the left" have some "completely transphobic and completely genocidal views." She added: "But I’m not settling for what has been offered… this is not me playing both sides. This is me questioning both sides."
Now, in an interview with BBC Radio One, the Good Luck, Babe singer has hit out at all the controversy surrounding her personal beliefs and upfront manner, as well as her refusal to extend her tour, claiming: "I think, actually, I'd be more successful if I was OK wearing a muzzle."
"If I were to override more of my basic instincts, where my heart is going, 'Stop, stop, stop, you're not OK', I would be bigger. I would be way bigger... And I would still be on tour right now."
While this was said somewhat in jest, it does beg the question: are outspoken women really less successful? And do we get further in life if we make ourselves more palatable? Or do we simply fall in line and continue to forgo the benefits our male counterparts reap?
Women in the workplace: The facts
According to a 2018 study published by the Harvard Business Review, visibility in the workplace creates various benefits – and issues – for women that are not experienced by men.
By staying out of the spotlight, the work of women is often overlooked and, therefore, reduces their potential to progress to more senior roles. But, it states, by making themselves more visible, they often experience backlash because they are acting in ways that are not expected of them.
Studying the in-depth behaviours and responses of 86 participants on a company’s development programme for women, the experts determined that there were three main reasons for what they call “intentional invisibility”: 1. Backlash to their behaviour, leaving them more exposed and at risk; 2. A departure from their core values and personal demeanour; and 3. They felt the burden of parenthood pressures, which are still heavily weighted towards women.
A 2022 report from professional services network PwC also found that just 39% of women felt their managers listened to them compared to 47% of men – and just 26% of women said they felt able to ask for a promotion, compared to 34% of men.
Combined with the fact that there are just 10 FTSE 100 CEOs who are women and there is still a 7% comparative gender pay gap, this all points to what Roan is saying: In order to be more successful, women need to advocate for themselves and demonstrate more assertive behaviours, but if they are too outspoken, they run the risk of being punished by our superiors and, in her case, society at large – women are considered "divas" or "demanding" for asking for what they want.
Of course, not everyone is in the position that Roan is to be able to refuse added workloads if they do not feel comfortable with it.
But this is hardly a novel conundrum. In her 2020 documentary Miss Americana, Taylor Swift spoke with her dad and management team about publicly backing Democrat Phil Bredesen in the 2018 US Midterms – which she was warned against, given the very fierce and, by many accounts, career-damaging backlash felt by the band formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, when they spoke out about President George W Bush in 2003.
Swift has often teetered between speaking out on politics and public affairs and staying quiet, and has only in recent years, by her account, felt that she's in a place to be more vocal – and this is one of the most powerful women in the world we're talking about.
Then, of course, she dedicated a whole song (The Man) to the perceived gender imbalance and how her male counterparts were praised for behaviours she would be shunned for.
Just last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared that corporations needed “more masculine energy” and that “having a culture that celebrates aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive.”
He was likely referring to what he calls “culturally neutered” men in the workplace, but oftentimes, women are told that to be more successful, they must emulate those same behaviours – making themselves more assertive, taking emotion out of decision-making and going after opportunities with "aggression."
There are endless LinkedIn articles on this topic, as well as CEO talks on the benefits of "using your voice".
So, what does it take to be more successful as a woman? The answer is not definitive, that's for sure. Quite the opposite, in that there seems to be a very blurred line between the "right" and "wrong" amount of visibility and forthrightness.
Perhaps, then, rather than asking what women can do more or less of, we should be examining the structures in place and the types of behaviours and approaches businesses recognise and reward. Only then can we expect to see more diversity.
Read more about the workplace:
I work from home full-time – my mental health has never been better (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
How to spot if you're being love-bombed at work (Yahoo Finance UK, 6-min read)
What to expect at work in 2025 (Yahoo Finance UK, 6-min read)
