This year's International Women's Day theme is all about breaking the conscious and unconscious biases that women face both in the workplace and in wider society. Whether it's unequal pay, inappropriate comments and stereotyping, or lack of visibility compared to male peers, discrimination is sadly still rife and should be addressed and challenged at every turn.
Easier said than done though, right? Challenging bias, standing up for what's right, and having difficult, honest conversations can often feel awkward at best and confrontational at worst. And while that's not how it should be, it's a very real barrier to progression.
With this in mind, we wanted to give some practical, actionable advice on how you can help to #BreakTheBias in your daily life.
Maintain a gender equal mindset
When we talk about a gender equal mindset in relation to the workplace, the most common topic raised is the issue of equal pay. And while the gender pay gap is slowly getting smaller, the issue will continue to be raised until no gap exists at all.
But there are lots of other ways a business can facilitate a more inclusive and comfortable environment for women. Flexible working, fair maternity/paternity leave and transparent salaries are all job benefits that have a clearer and more profound impact on women.
In the UK, fathers receive a total of two weeks paternity leave, compared to 52 weeks maternity leave. Why is this an issue? Because it reinforces the stereotype that a mother's primary role is to raise the child whilst the father performs the role of 'bread winner'. Women's career progression often tails off after childbirth; allowing fathers more time off gives women more freedom to focus on their career.
More accommodations can also be made for women's health. Periods and the menopause can still feel taboo to talk about, and far too many women battle through period pain and menopausal symptoms because they feel invalidated. Open conversations with management and peers can help raise awareness around women's health and lead to more supportive structures being put in place.
Challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination
Stereotypes around what women think, feel and do still cast a long shadow over society, and this manifests itself in all areas of life.
To paraphrase an old adage, no child is born with inherent bias. Instead, stereotypes are passed on from adult role models and learned from an early age. If, for example, children are told that "playing football is for boys", then that exclusion and othering is carried into adult life and discrimination and bias become even more deeply rooted. Hobbies are not gendered activities, and we can all play a role in encouraging children to express themselves however they want.
Challenging stereotypical thoughts or actions in young people is a great way to nip issues in the bud. To revisit the football example, if you hear a child repeat the idea that "football is for boys", ask them why they think that. Reinforce your words with examples of positive role models, like England Women's football captain, Steph Houghton.
Unfortunately, when children grow up with their views unchallenged, we end up with adults who hold onto bias whether they're aware of it or not. Most of the time this doesn't manifest itself in overt actions of sexism, but in microaggressions that are often unconscious. For example, a woman may be described as "bossy", whereas a man displaying similar qualities would be called "assertive".
The more we're aware of these kinds of biases, and the more employers facilitate open and safe environments for these kinds of discussions, the closer we'll get to a fairer and more inclusive society.
Call out gendered actions and assumptions
One of the more difficult situations a woman can find themselves in is being the subject of an inappropriate, gender-related joke. Even if the joke makes them feel uncomfortable, it's far easier to stay quiet and laugh along through fear of "being a killjoy" or "being too sensitive".
"It's only a joke" after all. But is it? Jokes of this nature often reveal a deeper belief, and no one should be made to feel like the butt of the fun regardless of whether the person is joking or not. Challenging this behaviour can come across as overly confrontational, but anyone is well within their right to say "that made me feel uncomfortable" or "please don't make those kind of jokes". It's then up to your peers to offer you support, which brings us onto our next point.
Men have an important role to play in standing up to bias and stereotyping. Inappropriate jokes about women are more often than not made in the absence of women. We need to encourage the men in our lives to call out gender discrimination and make it clear to their friends that it's not appropriate in any setting.
Forge positive visibility of women
So far, we've spoken a lot about standing up to negativity — but what positive steps can we take to #BreakTheBias?
One thing we can all do is actively promote women and their achievements. We should encourage women in senior business roles to share their success stories on social media and provide mentorship for women in junior roles. The value of visibility and role models is invaluable for younger women in the early part of their careers.
There are plenty of other things outside of work we can do to boost visibility, too. Research woman-owned businesses, or go and see a show or exhibition created by women. Anything we can do to forge positive visibility for women is a step in the right direction.
Celebrate women's achievements
Similar to how we should be increasing visibility around women, we can do more to celebrate their achievements too.
Whether you're acting on behalf of a company or using your personal social media accounts, share the successes of your woman employees and friends. Has someone you know recently written a book, or got a promotion, or competed in a sports tournament? Shout about it! Normalising praise and the celebration of women can slowly but surely alter perceptions and ultimately lead to a more inclusive society
Even simple, everyday praise can go a long way. Crediting women for their ideas in a work environment should be the norm, but it's not always commonplace. Watch out for "hepeating" — when a man takes a woman's idea and repeats it as his own. Instead, we should always amplify whoever first came up with the idea.
Influence the beliefs and actions of others
This last section ties in everything we've already mentioned. People influence people, so taking a stand and speaking up for what you believe in will have a halo effect on the people around you, whether that be colleagues, friends, or family.
Be prepared to have uncomfortable conversations with your peers and educate yourself on unconscious bias and stereotypical language so that you can pass that knowledge on to the people around you. Practice using gender neutral language like "everyone" instead of "ladies and gentleman", or "partner" instead of "boyfriend/girlfriend".
And, just to reiterate, gender equality is not a problem for women to solve. Men need to be a part of the conversation and a part of the movement. Talk to your friends, brothers, fathers and uncles and help them to see — without judgement — what they could possibly do to support the women in their life and in wider society.
At the end of day, it all comes down to kindness and empathy. The world is a tough enough place as it is without men and women being divided, so let's be better, commit to positive change, and #BreakTheBias together.
For more information on everything we've spoken about, visit the International Women's Day website.
