Every year, in August, our country marks Women's Month and this year marks 65 years since the watershed 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings on August 8th. Women’s Month allows us to gauge how far we have come in transforming society, particularly the transformation of unequal power relations between women and men. While also focusing on and addressing gender oppression, patriarchy, sexism, racism, ageism, structural oppression, and creating a conducive environment which enables women to take control of their lives.
Gender disparity within roles of leadership has been built over generations. Stereotypes and patriarchal cultures have been nurtured by non-inclusive working customs and practices.
While the statistics are discouraging, the effort to overcome barriers in a male-dominated business sector is being driven by some of the world’s leading women in industry, alongside major campaign initiatives and companies. The future leaders of our world are officially being reimagined.
Woman have their own inherent qualities that make them suitable for leadership. An article written for Forbes identified that the leadership qualities women naturally possess, are the traits most undervalued. Forbes lists powerful values such as opportunity-driven, strategic, passionate, entrepreneurial, purposeful and meaningful as those most overlooked. On speaking about the need for women in positions of power, Former President of the US, Barack Obama says, “Not to generalise but women seem to have a better capacity than men do, partly because of their socialisation”. Business Insider further examined this natural inclination of women being effective, arguably better, leaders. After speaking to various women why this may be the case, the answer frequently received was that they had to demonstrate their competencies at a higher level, to receive the same recognition and rewards. Simply put, “we must perform twice as well to be thought half as good.” There’s no substantial study that’s ever been conducted that suggests that women are intrinsically prone to more mistakes or are less intelligent or competent in any field than men. Women can perform just as well even if the system makes women prove it over and over.
While there have been major changes and improvements to the landscape that have helped empower women in the workforce, there is still a great deal that needs to be done in this space. It is important to consider how we as employers can make space for female employees and empower them within the workplace. Meetings often can serve as a place where women’s voices can be shouted down, so regardless of your gender, use meetings as a chance to show support for women’s ideas and perspectives. By ensuring that female voices are acknowledged and not talked over or passed, you create space for women to voice their opinions, share their perspective and offer them the chance to empower themselves. Empowerment is created when the strengths that women already have are recognised and utilised.
In addition it is critical to swiftly and appropriately address microaggressions, concerning comments or jokes and any concerns related to one’s identity. By allowing these to continue, it perpetuates a culture that excludes populations which tears the power away from the employees affected. While it is often a legal necessity, it is often for the common good of the whole organisation to not tolerate these negative behaviours.
In a typical corporate world, the problems of equality can be predominantly found at the upper and middle management levels with women making between 65 to 77 cents for every male Rand.
While policies and special programs can certainly help in empowering women, women should support one another. Harvard Business Review came up with an exciting new study. It said that women with an inner circle of successful female friends are more likely to land executive positions and higher pay. Most often than not, in the rat race to achieve success and recognition at any cost, women often tend to belittle and bring down their own. Women in power should use the opportunity to promote an environment where other women can grow. Solidarity is one of the strongest tools we can develop; with women mentoring each other and helping each other overcome challenges. While women are now standing up against every disadvantage that was an “accepted” norm earlier, their support system needs to evolve for their equal representation in the workplace, especially at senior levels.
An empowered woman lives her purpose improving lives of those around her; she knows her strengths and how to use these to make a difference. An empowered woman is gentle with herself when she makes a mistake and keeps negative self-talk at bay; she finds ways to grow and develop each day, whether that’s learning from mistakes, cultivating a gratitude practice, reading personal development books, going back to school to get a degree in a different field or teaching herself a new skill. She knows her best asset is her own mind, and she will seize opportunities to show it off.
An empowered woman questions traditions that don’t allow women the opportunity to speak their minds. She makes decisions based on her intuition and core values and not on what society thinks she should do. She challenges rules and “norms” and asks for a raise or promotion that is long overdue. She takes risks because she knows they are necessary for personal and professional fulfilment and growth all whilst showing vulnerability. She loves going deep with friends and learning about what makes them unique. She shares stories of her triumphs and her failures, in hopes that her lessons will help someone else. She shows emotion appropriately to bond with others and uses empathy to connect to the experiences of those around her.
An empowered woman knows she is enough, just the way she is. She understands her value at home, at work, in the world and knows what she deserves. She deserves respect, a seat at the table, equal pay for equal work, opportunities to grow. She knows her worth is not measured in the way she looks, in how she uses her body, in past mistakes, nor in society’s image of a woman. She knows she is worthy because she is a human being with a purpose on this earth. Confidence comes from taking action, and an empowered woman understands this first-hand. This confidence is contagious and will pave the way for future generations of women to take action, build confidence, and change the world. An empowered woman knows that there is more than enough to go around, she doesn’t waste her time putting other women down, plenty of other people already do that.
Very well said mom!