By: Christina Nguyen
It’s no surprise that in 2022, women account for approximately half of the college-educated workforce, holding 50% of all jobs in the US. Most of us can instinctively rattle off a few names of successful women in our social circles or just name some high-profile female figures.
However, despite women's strides, being female remains a symbol of disadvantage in the business world. Women face several issues tied to our history of discrimination, particularly harassment, microaggressions and pressure to conform to narrow gender roles. While there is nothing wrong with choosing to stick to traditional gender norms, external pressure to do so can place a burden on women looking to make the most out of their careers.
One of the most visible outcomes of this inequality is the lack of representation of women in leadership roles. For example, only around a quarter of leadership roles are filled by women, making them drastically underrepresented in an influential part of business. However, before more women can rise to positions of power and influence, gracing the business world with diverse perspectives, we need to address the issues that are holding half our human population back.
Here are some issues women often face in the workplace you and your team members should all be aware of:
Sexual harassment
This is a common yet distressing complaint that the recent #MeToo movement has highlighted. Throughout much of history, bringing up sexual harassment, unfortunately, came with retaliation and victim-blaming. Still, the culture has been shifting to one where perpetrators are receiving more of the scrutinization rather than the victims.
Statistics show that women are more likely to report sexual harassment than men, although many men have been victims. In addition, 68% of reported cases are unfortunately associated with employer retaliation. Unsurprisingly, this is why the majority of cases are unreported.
If you’re ever concerned that sexual harassment might arise at your workplace, it’s critical to create an environment where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, including gender diversity. Make sure it’s clear that your environment values transparency, equality and respect so that employees of all genders feel comfortable speaking up. Regardless of your internal policies, keep in mind, past trauma could also cloud an employee’s decision to speak up. By having an open-door policy and not allowing retaliation, it can help encourage people to speak out in cases of harassment.
Pregnancy discrimination.
“Do you plan on having a child soon?” is an illegal, unethical question to ask a woman during an interview for a reason. It’s common for employers to assume that a woman will inevitably have a child, thus undermining her devotion to and time spent with the company. And when women are pregnant, it’s common for them to face discrimination, despite this being illegal.
Pregnancy-related terminations still happen without being explicitly categorized as such by the employer. The impacts of these types of actions can extend well beyond the workplace. Even perceptions of being discriminated against can exacerbate postpartum depression.
If you suspect that a newly pregnant employee may alter the course of their relationship with your business, don’t make any assumptions and have an honest conversation. Plenty of families can balance work, pregnancy and childcare just fine. But, of course, if an employee raises concerns about being treated differently after pregnancy, listen!
Appearance discrimination.
It’s understandable why physical appearance is monitored in the workplace ‒ the majority of individuals believe that an employee's physical appearance subconsciously reflects a company’s values, professionalism and competency. Usually, this means adhering to a physical standard of professionalism ‒ which isn’t inherently sexist on its own until women are unfairly scrutinized.
While women are far from being the sole victims, women are more likely to report harsher, stricter expectations on physical features to maintain. This includes being passed over for promotions due to not meeting a traditionally feminine appearance or being told to show more or less skin. For women of color, discrimination can include being told to straighten their hair or that their natural hair is unprofessional.
Work-life balance.
This is a common issue raised by people of all genders, but the gendered expectations of women’s role in the home often exacerbate this for women. For example, women are more than three times as likely to state that having children makes it harder to advance in a job or career. Women are more likely than men to have their work lives interrupted by family and believe that it’s harder to get high-ranking jobs in business and government.
All team members who seem to be experiencing work-life imbalance should have a safe space to make their voices heard. A work-life imbalance doesn’t always look like staying after hours all the time, but also a parent who may not have the flexibility to pick up their children from school or a team member who doesn’t have the option to participate in their favorite activities due to scheduling conflicts.
What can businesses do to move forward?
A single business alone can’t fix all the deep issues above, but it can take small steps in the right direction. Just making small strides in the ways we’ve suggested above can go a long way and inspire further action in your team members. For example, extending an empathetic, understanding ear in a safe space for a victim could prevent further issues, such as the perpetrator targeting other team members and some serious trauma on the victim’s part. Don’t ever think that you’re too small to make a difference!
What are some issues you’ve noticed affecting women in particular?
What are your tips in handling such issues in an empathetic, understanding, diplomatic manner?
Let us know in the comments below!
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About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a proud member of Local First and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help small businesses grow by providing guidance in financial planning, website development, marketing, and more.
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