Overcoming Implicit Bias: Creating Inclusive Work Environments for Women
New perspectives on women’s professions are developing each year, with an emphasis on exploiting technology, rethinking work-life balance in light of changing social standards, and addressing structural hurdles. We can put the perspectives in different dimensions.
Leadership and Structural Obstacles
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that women and girls are the most impacted victims of wars started by males and underlined the importance of defending women’s rights in all contexts on March 11, 2024, at the beginning of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). In most countries, there is a significant gender disparity in leadership roles. The Secretary-General emphasized the significance of dismantling institutional impediments to attain gender parity in leadership roles. The proportion of women holding decision-making positions is declining, Secretary-General Guterres emphasized, despite research showing that women’s full participation greatly increases the effectiveness of peacebuilding. Furthermore, Mr. Guterres emphasized how important it is for women to be in positions of authority, especially in financial institutions. He drew attention to the glaring gender imbalance in finance, noting that more than nine out of ten governors of central banks and over eight out of ten finance ministers are men. The Secretary-General stressed that attaining gender parity in leadership posts requires tearing down institutional barriers.
“Let’s do it by investing in women and girls, betting on women and girls, and pushing for peace and dignity for women and girls everywhere,” Mr. Guterres
Gender Gap in the Digital Age
The growing digital gender divide is a major concern, with male-dominated fields like artificial intelligence often overlooking women’s needs and perspectives. The UN head highlighted the gender gap in digital technology, pointing out that men predominate in this field, especially in artificial intelligence. He cautioned that algorithms controlled by males could maintain disparities in a variety of spheres of society, pointing out that male leaders and engineers frequently neglect the needs, bodies, and fundamental rights of women when designing systems. He called on governments, civic society, and Silicon Valleys across the globe to unite in a tremendous endeavor to close the gender gap in digital technology and guarantee that women hold decision-making positions at all levels.
Private Patriarchy’s Effect
When it comes to discriminatory gender standards, women under private patriarchy experience numerous forms of oppression within their families whereas males are not subject to these limitations. Women are expected to do domestic tasks including cooking, cleaning, and child care in patriarchal households. Women are generally discouraged from taking paid jobs since they would have to interact with people of the opposing gender and move around in public. While a large amount of research has been done on how public patriarchy affects women’s professions, less has been studied about how private patriarchy affects women’s careers.
Women’s job paths are influenced by private patriarchy, as evidenced by studies employing the Kaleidoscope job Model (KCM). Women’s experiences with private patriarchy have a big impact on their work priorities, which are authenticity, balance, and challenge, as opposed to following typical career stages. It was discovered that women who did not encounter any form of private patriarchy valued balance more than other requirements. Women’s quest for pleasure and personal fulfillment was inspired by their firsthand experiences with private patriarchy. These ladies put their own health first and looked for connections and experiences that reflected who they really were.
Women’s Leadership Initiatives:
KPMG’s Women’s Leadership Summit: are working to empower women through mentorship and development programs, aiming to increase the representation of women in leadership positions across various industries (KPMG).
Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS): Organized by the Sea Services Leadership Association, JWLS is one of the largest gatherings of women in the military and government sectors. The 2024 symposium, held in Arlington, Virginia, focuses on providing networking opportunities, professional development, and inspirational talks to support women leaders in these fields.
Next Generation Women Leaders (NGWL): This McKinsey & Company initiative offers a series of events across different regions, including EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. These events are designed to inspire and develop the next generation of women leaders through workshops, networking, and mentoring opportunities. Participants are selected based on their academic and professional achievements, leadership potential, and desire to make a positive impact in their communities.
These initiatives highlight the growing emphasis on women’s leadership development and the diverse approaches taken to support and inspire women across different stages of their careers and sectors.
-Manju Malathy is an Assistant Professor with 12 years of experience in the higher education sector. She is a Zone Trainer at Junior Chamber International India Zone 20 and a social activist.
