Why are there so few women leaders? Sheryl Sandberg’s answer

The data doesn’t lie: women aren’t making it to the top. Out of 190 heads of state, only nine are women; 16% of corporate leaders are female; among non-profit organizations, it’s 20%.

The problem, according to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, is that women end up leaving the high-income workforce. Why? Because they are forced to make an inherently unfair choice.

A study in the US found that 66% of married men who are senior managers have children, compared to only 33% of married women in the same role. So what’s behind that disparity?

One reason is that if a couple has a child and both of them work full-time, the woman does three times as much childcare. That’s the equivalent of doing at least two full-time jobs.

But addressing that imbalance would have a direct benefit on relationships: homes where earnings and responsibilities are equal also see 50% less divorce.

Another problem is that from the moment a woman considers having a child, even if it’s years in advance, she starts thinking about the logistics involved. As a result, she will unconsciously but inevitably put herself forward for fewer opportunities and projects.

There is a second consequence to this: if you haven’t progressed your career, or at least made it as engaging as possible, returning to it will be even less appealing once you’ve had a child.

Another layer to the imbalance: women tend to undervalue their abilities. One study found that 57% of men entering the workforce negotiated their first salary, compared to only 7% of women. Men also take credit for their own success, while women credit other factors.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as believing in yourself more. There is a proven negative correlation between success and likability among women. (The opposite is true for men.) This means that any woman advancing her career has to accept that trade-off.

Sheryl Sandberg’s advice: Nobody gets ahead unless they believe they deserve a seat at the table. Make sure your partner is an equal one. Push your career to the max right up to the day you take maternity leave (if you take it at all). Your choices now will shape your future.