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According to the 2018 Women in the Workplace report, women are still underrepresented in the workplace. The number of women across various job levels has been lower than that of their male counterparts for the last four years. Apart from that, the report goes on to reveal that, of all the positions in the workplace, women are least represented in leadership roles.
Even though the report referenced above shows women trailing their male counterparts, there have been efforts to boost gender balance in the workplace for quite some time now. Men and women alike have been finding ways to eliminate any barriers to the inclusion of women in the employment world. Also, there have been efforts to empower women and help them easily access educational, health, economic, and other opportunities.
The SASA! initiative in the East African country of Uganda is an example of a program that seeks to address the existing gender inequities in the region. This initiative intends to combat HIV/AIDS as well as domestic violence by addressing the imbalance of power in intimate relationships. So far, there have been notable successes. A report on the initiative concludes that the adopted gender-synchronized strategies yielded a deeper comprehension of the privileges experienced by men as well as the existing gender constraints. In turn, more women were included in discussions, thereby leading to significant gains in decision making, the diffusion of useful ideas on tackling workloads, and the mitigation violence among women and men.
The Gen.M (Gender Matters) curriculum is yet another initiative with positive results. Implemented in the US state of Texas by Engender Health, Gen.M discovered that girls and boys in the treatment group were notably more knowledgeable about different contraceptive methods and where to get them. Apart from that, it was revealed that participants in the treatment group were more likely to actively accept that female birth control methods should be used during sexual intercourse among young people. With such gains, female reproductive health can be improved to ensure that women stay competitive in today’s cut-throat world.
These are some of the efforts put in place to battle gender inequity in different areas of the world. There are many other initiatives too. However, this post will focus on the things that can be done to achieve gender equality at the workplace:
Re-Evaluate the “Likeability Penalty” to Achieve Equality at Work
When a man is competent, his peers will tend to like him more. On the other hand, when a woman is, both men and women tend to like her less. This bias should be challenged to give a chance to female workers in the workplace an opportunity to grow. Apart from that, men should be encouraged to embrace feminism to avoid falling into such bias traps. After all, feminism is about equality.
Men and Women Working Together Should Be Evaluated Fairly
Equality between men and women can only be achieved when eliminating the gender factor from performance evaluation. The things that constitute excellent performance at work should be specified in advance, measurable, and understood by men and women staff alike. This way, you will avoid creating despair treatment in the workplace (from women workers) whenever performance reviews come up.
Men workers should also be taught how to improve gender equality in the workplace by being acquainted with the different approaches to evaluating performance. This way, they will know how to gauge the work their female counterparts objectively.
Address Gender Equality Issues by Giving Women Credit
The best way to cope with gender discrimination in the workplace is to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of women staff. It is also essential to combat gender stereotypes in the workplace by pushing back when women say “no” to being acknowledged for performing well in traditionally male duties.
Join the Gender Equality Movement by Allowing Women to Speak Up
In comparison to women, men usually talk more and give more suggestions at work meetings. Women, however, are often interrupted when talking, receive less credit for their ideas, and don’t have as much influence as men. One study by George Washington University found that men would interrupt 33% more when speaking with women than their male counterparts. As a result, while men take the seats at the front and center in a meeting, women are relegated to the edge of the room or table.
This trend can be traced back to school where girls are generally given less time to talk in class, and when they do speak, they are often interrupted by boys. As a man and team leader, you can actually challenge these gender norms by employing a gender-synchronized approach. Encouraging both men and women to participate in the meeting, you give each person a chance to show their expertise, and in turn, the company gets better outcomes.
To encourage equality, make sure each person has an opportunity to talk, and most importantly, they should be heard. If a female colleague is talking and she is interrupted, stand up for her by saying you would like to let her finish the thought. You can also ask women to contribute to the discussion if their participation is low. Also, acknowledge women for their original ideas.
Address Women’s Issues by Distributing Work Equally
People expect help from women and rarely from men. In a typical workplace, women do more office housework than men. The responsibility of taking notes during meetings, training recruits, and organizing events are often left to women employees. These tasks keep the employee from fully participating in the team.
However, women who do these chores receive no recognition for their efforts, and if they decline, they are penalized. Men are cheered for their contribution and face very little consequences if they refuse to do these tasks. This situation is one of the greatest examples of double standards in the workplace.
As a leader, distribute office duties equally – you could also take up some of the responsibilities too. Encourage a culture of men helping women in tasks that are thought to be for women. Also, don’t expect women employees to take up the “stereotypical roles” like taking notes. However, recognize those who volunteer to office housework too.
Get Men Support for Leave
Until employers begin to regard men as just as responsible for child caregiving as women, and men are granted an equal chance to be caregivers, women will continue to shoulder the burden of caregiving. With 70% of mothers who have children below the age of 18 participating in the US labor force and more than 75% working full time, involving men in childcare by giving them parental leave will ensure that women’s talents aren’t lost.
So, gender equality for men is important in the fight women’s equal representation at work. Encourage men to take their leave and make the workplace conducive for parents.
Tell of the Advantages of Men Supporting Women
Why is full equality for women as important for men as it is for women? No matter how much women work towards gender balance, it cannot be realized without men participation. Talk to your employees or colleagues on why the contribution of a man at work is just as important as a woman. Gender diversity increases business performance and growth. More women in the labor force, can boost the economy by up to 35%.
So, can a man be a feminist? Definitely, men can support the cause for gender balance in the workplace. Men who support feminism also promote peace, make life happier for everyone, and contribute to economic growth.
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