The Clayton Utz panel on sexism, featuring Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd Hurwitz
The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford is a beautiful venue with curved seating and a high vaulted ceiling. It was the place that I matriculated into university (albeit in Latin), and it was also the place that I dragged along some of my reluctant friends to listen to Laura Bates, the author of the best-selling book Everyday Sexism.
Laura described how she had ‘stumbled’ across this project when she rather innocently blogged a request for female readers to send in stories of prejudice. This quick inquiry rapidly grew into a website and then a book, in which Laura discusses what everyday sexism means and how it might be combatted.
As an ardent feminist, I found the concepts outlined by Laura were neither novel nor radical. But what made her book different was her desire to provide young teenagers with witty rebukes and solemn advice on how to deal with the constant onslaught of critical messages.
Everyday sexism is perhaps best defined as the reminders women receive from other men and women, that they are unqualified or fragile. While these individual slights are often vague and tongue-in cheek, the sentiment expressed is clear: women are inferior to men. Furthermore sexism, while often thought of as hostile, can also be benevolent. Men often are incidentally sexist in an attempt to ‘protect’ women, which manifests itself as paternalism or the attribution of goddess like qualities to women, who are ‘special’ and even ‘mystical.’
At university and at school, it has always been easy for me to share my understanding in this area and to ‘call-out’ behaviours which I felt undermined women and their intellect. As the elected Women’s Officer’ at Wadham College, I felt empowered and encouraged to assert the merit of women studying at an institution that has historically excluded us, in part because the young men and women I talk to are also students.
But earlier this year I learnt about the level of sexism present in the corporate world, where ambitious and hard-working women understandably struggle to call out bad behaviour because it may tarnish their careers and damage important networks. Despite my interest in feminism and enthusiasm for equality in all facet of my life, I had never fully appreciated the different challenges present in a working environment.
I attended an event organised by Clayton Utz, as a part of its initiative for women called “Momentum.” Momentum is the impetus of a moving object. I cannot think of a name that better encapsulates the will of women in the corporate world and their desire to positively contribute to the companies where they work. Momentum invited Holly Kramer (Non-Executive Director of AMP, Woolworths, Australia Post and Nine Entertainment), Rob Whitfield (Secretary NSW Treasury), Tracy Howe (CEO NCOSS and former CEO of Domestic Violence NSW) and Dr Michael Flood (Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong) and the chair Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz (CEO Mirvac) to discuss the topic of everyday sexism in a corporate landscape.
Women continue to be excluded from senior management positions and the corporate boardrooms of Australia. Sexism is one factor holding us back.
Clayton Utz was bold to bring this complex and challenging discussion to light, and managed to achieve almost equal participation from men and women alongside the gender-balanced panel. This diversity provided a number of interesting perspectives and also demonstrated the desire for Clayton Utz and its clients, both men and women, to combat the issue.
The conversation was erudite and focused, punctuated with moments of incredible insight and humour. Poignantly Michael began the conversation by defining everyday sexism as a ‘dripping tap’ that whilst innocuous can present a huge threat to a woman’s confidence and well-being in the workplace. This metaphor demonstrates the corrosive effect of sexism and encapsulates its seeming triviality.
Holly was candid in her confession that the problem of everyday sexism was one she only truly accepted when her professional standing was stable. She outlined her four stages of development from obliviousness, to denial, to awakening and finally to an advocate for women in the workplace. This honesty in her description reveals how difficult it can be to identify sexist behaviour and further how feminism has only recently entered the public’s consciousness. Holly explained how hard it can be for young women, who are not economically empowered and fundamentally disposable to their company, to rise up and challenge women and men who often are more senior and well-established.
Susan also noted the complete saturation of sexism in daily life. She said that even though she embodies a ‘modern’ mum with a full time job, her son felt he should compliment her for her ironing and cleaning. Susan’s anecdote serves as a reminder that individual efforts to dispel sexism are not sufficient, and that real change requires an institutional focus on recognising unconscious bias and a constant engagement with attitudes.
Counter to these opinions provided by women who work in the corporate sector, Tracy brought the perspective of a woman who has dedicated her work in the not-for-profit sector to combatting domestic violence and sexism. Tracy described the difficulty in shaping discourse and calling out sexism, even with the power and knowledge that accompanies her professional work. Her grassroots work reveals that attitudes within the workplace will only change slowly, because this is a ‘game of inches.’
It was inspiring to watch these women comment on their journey professional success. And it was wonderful have Rob chart his own development into an advocate for change. Rob, with his financial expertise, outlined that allowing people to work flexibly, a requirement of many women who balance work with commitments to children and ageing parents, increased productivity. Michael shifted the conversation nicely and ascribed responsibility to senior men to change culture.
The main message of the panel was clear: in an ideal corporate world, the individuals who work the hardest, demonstrate great loyalty and practice innovative thinking should be the people we promote.
In combatting everyday sexism and recognising that we are all guilty of undermining the women around us, we can produce more efficient and successful companies. The event itself was recognition that a problem exists and simultaneously a forum for solving it.
I have barely started what I hope will become a fulfilling career. As I watched the panel, I was heartened to discover that the media and influence of feminism early on in my development had made me aware of these emerging issues. I was even more gratified by the work of Clayton Utz in seeking to instigate though-provoking conversation. The presence of Tracy, Holly and Susan emphasised that women can be powerful and constructive leaders.
Women are capable, women are present, and we are gaining momentum.
