Facebook’s Sandberg plays it safe on questions of policy

Sheryl Sandberg is by now well-practised not only in leaning in, but in battling the fierce headwinds of criticism that surround the basics of her philosophy. Some wonder, for example, precisely how Sandberg – a white, Harvard-educated billionaire – might believe her position is relevant for the wider population.

She would argue, presumably, that her childhood was considerably less privileged and that it is hard work and leaning in that got her where she is today. It is a progression that makes her better-placed than most to advise the rest of us.

The less complimentary Sandberg-watchers might believe she has sold out a little in her manifesto, by placing the emphasis on the individual or on groups of women rather than on public policy when it comes to pushing for change. She would argue that we need to get the women into the top jobs first and that policy change will follow.

Political candidate
But should it not be possible to seek both at the same time? Sandberg, often identified as a future political candidate, is perhaps playing safe on that one, with a view to the eventual goal of high office. She gently fobbed off queries on her political ambitions yesterday, saying we need strong female leaders in both business and politics.

She was careful in not treading on international toes when asked about what policy changes she would seek, if she had the power. Top of her list was proper maternity leave in the US, with a greater role for fathers in such leave also featuring.

Sandberg is very big on parents – she has two young children and leaves work at 5.30pm to see them, logging on again later – and sharing their home responsibilities, which she reckons should be split 50/50, to everybody's benefit. This is despite her husband, David Goldberg, chief executive of SurveyMonkey, admitting that she probably carries about 60 per cent of such duties on her shoulders in their household.

Childcare
The family's childcare arrangements are unknown, as it should be, but all full-time working parents know that such a life is only possible if layers of support are available, both practically and financially. Crucially, it also needs to be something that parents desire for themselves and their family.

In this vein, Sandberg didn’t really have an answer for an enlightened middle- aged man in the audience who wondered why his high-achieving professional daughter and son-in-law had reverted to the woman as nurturer, man as hunter/gatherer roles when their child had been born.

"A lot of that is just our expectation," she said, adding that it probably reflected "every message she and her husband have ever gotten". The answer didn't have the depth the questioner was seeking, perhaps because the Lean In principles don't, and can't, always reflect what some women and men actually want for themselves.