Everyday interactions to #BreaktheBias
I have often been curious about what it will take for gender equality. While women representation in leadership is an important goal for organizations, that alone is not enough. It goes beyond a scorecard. Even when women have a “seat at the table” hurdles exist for them to be effective at what they do best.
This International Women’s Day theme of #BreaktheBias is a powerful reminder of what we need to build a gender equal world. In fact, a new study (see below) supports the view that gender equality is not just about representation, but also creating workplace environments that reduce bias.
Your everyday interactions matter. Here are simple things that you can do:
Be aware: Be aware of your own biases – we all have biases. Write these down and commit to actions to do something different to break this bias.
Speak up: Speak up: If a woman is interrupted in a conversation, speak up to say how you would value hearing her perspective.
Lift others up: Be an advisor or mentor to women. Support them in their personal growth. Learn about the biases they face and help them to find ways to overcome these.
Find diverse talent: Next time you are hiring or bringing together a team for a project, be conscious of who you select. Actively engage diverse candidates who offer complimentary skills and diverse backgrounds including ethnicity, gender, age, etc.
Believe in you: Believe in your own capabilities and fight that inner self-doubt bias or imposter syndrome. Surround yourself with allies and advisors that support you.
What actions will you take to #BreaktheBias?
Add your comment to the Meiava #BreaktheBias post on LinkedIn and💖 like it to share it with others in your network.
How Bias Persists in Women-Dominated Workplaces
A new study by Amy Diehl, Amber L. Stephenson, and Leanne M. Dzubinski’s reveals that having balanced or even greater numbers of women in an organization is not, by itself, changing women’s experiences of bias. Biases are built into the system and continues to operate even when more women than men are present.
The study examined gender bias in four industries with more female than male workers: law, higher education, faith-based nonprofits, and health care.
The authors suggest four ways to reduce bias:
1. Replace competition with cooperation
2. Measure success by goals, not by time spent in the office or online
3. Implement equitable reward structures and provide remote and flexible work with autonomy
4. Increase transparency in decision making
Read more: How Bias Against Women Persists in Female-Dominated Workplaces