|
Reader question: Please explain “straight shooting”, as in “some straight shooting advice for career women”. My comments: Here, straight shooting (or straight-shooting) means direct and forthright. The advice may be from older career women themselves or people who’re experienced in dealing with issues career women often face at the work place – and at home, considering women often shoulder more household responsibilities. Anyways, straight-shooting as an adjective is originally descriptive of the way a rifle shooter takes aim at a target in distance. If he or she does it correctly, they have to aim straight at the target of course. Of course. Only this way can they have a realistic chance of hitting the target, weather permitting, etc. I mean, if there’s a big wind or something, the shooter should make adjustments accordingly but still, they have to aim straight at the target, more or less. In our example, a straight shooting advice for women might be this: Defer to men. It’s not my advice, mind you, but a piece of advice I often hear. This is the kind of advice, no doubt, from someone who’s had a lot of experience career-wise. Speaking frankly, they want you to lean on your male counterparts and hopefully ride on their coattails. Hopefully, this way, you’ll have a smooth sailing and avoid many ups and downs. Hopefully, emphasis on hopefully. This is in the same vein as the advice I often hear elders say to young men: If you know what’s good for you, just follow orders and do what the boss tells you to do. | 
