In celebration of International Women's Day, we had a chat with three fabulous women from Puori about body image on social media, if gender has ever been a hindrance at work or in their private lives and if it is true that women only eat salad and won't lift heavy stuff.
Read on to find out what they say…
The 9-hour time difference between colleagues on the US West Coast and in Copenhagen is no hindrance for the women of Puori to connect and share experiences.
It seems like keeping up with the latest diet trends, health and appearance have become social expectations as many of us may have been negatively affected or felt pressured at some point in life by the “perfect pictures” we see on social media. With this in mind, what can we do in order to feel our best, both physically and mentally?
Janni: It’s really important you don’t try and do everything that society or social media tells you to do. The best advice I can give - and it’s a little cliché - but it’s simply to do what fits you. If you don’t like running, don’t force yourself to run 5k!
The keyword is “balance”. It’s ok if you skip a workout or can’t eat healthily all the time. That’s something I also tell myself.
Celine: I agree with Janni’s comments but for me, it’s also about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself. It all starts with that. I’m not a cross fitter – I’m 109 years old!
[Laughs]
I'm not built to be a cross fitter but I do love hiking, climbing and swimming. When I need to rest, I usually watch sports or take a nap. You need to be happy to take on your responsibilities in life.
Tina: I agree. It’s important to listen to your body and focus on what’s most important in your work and private life.
If you try to achieve everything at the same time, it’s very likely that you’ll become stressed and achieve nothing.
Michelle: Exactly! Saying no to something is often also saying yes to yourself which maybe helps you feel more aligned with who you are and who you want to be. Have you ever achieved something that you thought was impossible because you're a woman?
Janni: Honestly, I don’t think my gender has stopped me from achieving the things I wanted, nor have I ever used my gender as an excuse.
Tina: I feel the same way as Janni. I think we are so lucky to be born in a country like Denmark where there’s good gender equality. It’s more about having the right competencies and the courage to try to reach our goals. We know that salaries aren’t equal, so there are still things we can continue to fight for.
Celine: Things were a little different for me growing up in the Philippines. You couldn’t talk about sports with men as they would stereotype women. I was very close to my father, and he told me: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” So just like the two ladies, it didn’t even cross my mind.
According to this research, the share of women in senior management is increasing globally, but the proportion of women in senior leadership positions is still lower than men worldwide. It seems like we still have a problem?
Tina: During my time living in the UK, I noticed there seemed to be more males in those senior positions. It made me think how for me, Denmark is quite culturally and socially different so perhaps that could influence level of gender equality in other countries?
Janni: That’s true. It makes me think about inequality in everyday life. There will still be some stereotypes out there who think girls only eat salads and can’t lift stuff.
Celine: As a woman, I agree that it feels good when you are able to climb the corporate ladder, break through and speak up in those male dominating environments.
Michelle: As we have been celebrating International Women’s Day well over a century now*, it seems you all agree that there is still a battle to be fought across the World, but luckily we continue to see more inspirational women. So, what qualities do the women who inspire you have in common?
Celine: The women on my list are strong, independent and very resilient. My grandmother had 9 kids and during the old days, women were told not to work. So, I wonder how she was able to raise all those wonderful human beings and not have any work skills? But she found a way and has always been one of the strongest women I look up to. You don’t go through hard times if you are not strong and resilient.
Janni: I very much agree with Celine, but those who inspire me are those who are not afraid to talk about the things they’re struggling with. When Sofie Linde (Danish television host and writer) was pregnant, she was the first I heard say; “this is really hard and not fun at all” - showing it’s not a weakness when admitting things aren’t always perfect.
Michelle: So, do you think vulnerability turns into a positive thing?
Janni: Yes, but you also need the confidence to talk about it. I think that’s very inspiring, especially when everything has to be so “perfect” on social media. I just like the honesty.
Tina: Three qualities come to mind. One is hard-working because things don’t necessarily come easily. Next is to do things differently. You don’t have to follow the footsteps of what others are doing to do things differently to succeed. Lastly, be honest and trustworthy.
There are definitely a lot of women who continue to inspire us on a daily basis - to keep going, try harder and push through, which made us think - what is the best part of being a woman?
Janni: That’s a tricky one again. I don’t see the things I love related to me being a woman but being related to me being me.
Celine: For me it’s being able to be called mom. It’s a privilege to be able to say that.
Tina: I feel the same - for me that’s very special.
A lot of great reflections have been shared throughout this conversation and it seems like it all comes down to simply being human rather than being a woman. What’s more important than your gender is your personal competencies; the ability to be honest with yourself and your surroundings, to not be afraid of speaking up and to support one another when times are tough in life.
Of course, we’re all different and these are just our own personal reflections on some of the battles and struggles we face in everyday life. So, removing the spotlight from us, we would love to hear from you, so we as women can support each other. Do you relate to what the women said in the interview? Feel free to share your thoughts in a direct message on Instagram.
The interview was hosted by our Customer Operations Coordinator, Michelle with the following participants:
Tina – Chief Marketing Officer
Janni - Growth Marketing Manager
Celine - Operations Manager