Women in the Workplace

A Fortune 500 company sponsored an executive retreat on Hawaii's Big Island. The point was to foster collaboration between executives as they climbed up the slope of the Kilauea Volcano, which had recently erupted in 2018 and was thought to be dormant for the foreseeable future. The executive cadre consisted of 10 male executives and 2 female executives, who endured a lot of snide comments and eye-rolling as they struggled to keep up with the men. At some point the volcano started to rumble, and the guide, seeing that they were too far from the bus at the base to make a run for it, decided to call in a rescue helicopter. However, given that they were on a slope, the helicopter had to hover over the group while they climbed onto a rope ladder, and then they had to simply hold on to the ladder during transport, because there was no way to get into the helicopter during flight. As the pilot struggled to keep the helicopter in the air, he realized that the load was roughly 100lbs over, so he called out to the executives on a loudspeaker: "One of you has to let go, or we are all going down!" This took a little while to sink in, but, even after it sunk in, still, no one volunteered to let go. Finally, one of the women said: "Okay, I will let go. After all, women have been sacrificing themselves for other people for as long as mankind has been around. From child-bearing, to child-rearing, to giving up our careers, to supporting our husbands as they progressed in their careers, to taking care of everyone when they are sick, even as we are sick. Why should this situation be any different?". The men all stared at her in disbelief. With emotional admiration, they all began vigorously applauding with both hands. After the rope ladder was clear, the women gave themselves a knowing glance and warm smile, and then hung on tight for the rest of the ride.

-- Modified from a version I heard on a Tara Brach podcast. She did not recall the source.