Thursday, March 28, 2024
Home Women Business News Three More Ways I’m Taking Action For Gender Equality

Three More Ways I’m Taking Action For Gender Equality


As we turn the page on another Women’s History Month, it is an apt time to reflect on all the women who brought us to this point today. How did their everyday actions shape those who followed in their footsteps? How can we continue to forge ahead on the trail they blazed? The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day was #ChooseToChallenge. This is something that keeps coming back to me. “Choose to challenge” isn’t just a motto; it’s a mindset. It’s a conscious choice to challenge the status quo and take action for gender equality. 

Earlier this month, I shared three ways that I #ChooseToChallenge in my everyday life. It feels apt to close out the month with three more actions that we can all commit to. 

Amplify the Accomplishments of Women

Women are often given less credit for successful outcomes and blamed more for failure. A recent study by a Harvard Ph.D. candidate found that men get about the same amount of credit when they write a research paper with a mixed-gender team as they do when they’re the sole author. Women get almost zero credit when they write a paper as part of a team with a man on it.

Moreover, women and men react to recognition in different ways.  “Women tend to be much harder on themselves. Data shows women feel they need to meet 100% of qualifications to apply for a job while men only meet 60% before applying,” says Yara Saad, Head of HR for Global Consumer Banking, Citi. 

Women also typically credit our accomplishments to external factors such as “getting lucky” and “help from others,” while men attribute their accomplishments to innate qualities and skills. They own their success as theirs. Conversely, when women celebrate our own accomplishments, we are often penalized for being too “self-promotional.” As a result of these dynamics, the contributions of women can go overlooked. 

When it comes to lifting up other women, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

Know there’s power in the pack. Although women are often penalized for promoting ourselves, you can spotlight other women, and they can do the same for you. It’s called Shine Theory, which follows the simple premise that “I don’t shine if you don’t shine.” And, it helps all of us. Just take it from Shachar Scott, Vice President Global Marketing at Bumble, who shared in the Equality Lounge® in Celebration of International Women’s Day, “One of our key mantras at Bumble is: Instead of fighting for a seat at the table, let’s build a bigger table.”

Emphasize the successes of your female coworkers. For example, when introducing female coworkers, you might follow up with, “She led our most recent project, which generated more revenue than any other initiative this year.”

 

Give Specific Feedback to Women

In a recent analysis of hundreds of performance reviews, 60% of the developmental feedback men received were linked to specific business outcomes versus 40% for women. 

While men get specific recommendations for improving their performance, women hear more generic feedback that’s harder to act on, such as “Good job” or “You need more presence in meetings.”  This lack of open communication slows down our individual and collective progress. Without clear direction, it’s difficult to develop skills that are needed to grow. 

Actively seek out opportunities to share real-time feedback, even if it’s bite-sized or virtual. Remember that holding back because you’re scared you’ll upset someone doesn’t benefit anyone. Look at feedback as a gift and ask for it regularly—you’ll benefit from the advice, and ideally, other women will follow your example.

 “You’re never too young to lead and you’re never too old to learn. I’m still learning. These young women today are being bold, they are bringing about the change they want to see. Know that, if you’re one of these young women, you belong,” said Nicole Pitter Patterson, Co-Founder and Director of Caribbean Girls Hack, in the Equality Lounge® in Celebration of International Women’s Day.

 

Mentor and Sponsor Women 

Mentorship and sponsorship drive success, but unfortunately women — and particularly women of color — miss out. Just look at the latest Women in the Workplace Report, which says that, for every 100 men promoted and hired to manager, just 85 women are promoted and hired. That first missed promotion can affect women for the rest of their careers. 

Mentorship is not about age; it’s about action. Even if you’re just starting out in your career, the unique perspective you have brings value to the team. If you’re more senior, go beyond offering advice and use your influence to advocate for others. Sponsorship is a great way for women leaders to pay it forward and help other women. 

Remember: A moment of mentorship can lead to a lifetime of impact. “Mentoring along the way is so important. From late-stage to early-stage, that’s what is needed to support women through their careers,” noted Darcy MacClaren, SVP Digital Supply Chain at NA SAP, in the Equality Lounge® in Celebration of International Women’s Day.

 

Make a Consistent Commitment to #ChooseToChallenge 

Last but certainly not least, we all have the power to drive change and create a more equal world— what one action will you take?

Here are three simple steps to consider:

  1. Write down one tangible action that you can take to forge a more gender-equal world. To get inspired, complete the following sentence: “I will #ChooseToChallenge this year by…”
  2. Give a call-to-action by sharing your commitment with your network and on social media, so others are inspired to act, too
  3. Turn your commitment into everyday action

How do you #ChooseToChallenge? I’d love to hear.





Source link

- Advertisement -

Must Read

Related News

- Supported by -