Progress on workplace gender equality has been painstakingly slow. Waiting around for women to educate themselves further, or another generation of men to enter the workforce, is simply not good enough.
If women are going to have the same opportunities as men for satisfying and fulfilling careers, then we’re going to need change: Big, uncomfortable, inconvenient change.
We need the kind of change that does not simply occur with an overnight fix – nor even by throwing a huge amount of money at it. We need change that touches every aspect of business, society, politics and the community – from the assumptions we make about each other, to the roles we take on at home, our national system of care, and the way we’ve come to accept how we structure our work.
Recently, we polled 144 of you on what you want from your career in 2015.
At the end of the survey, we asked you to share in one sentence on what needs to change for the careers of women in 2015.
You came up with a large variety of responses and, given it was an open-ended question, it’s difficult to offer a data-based summary.
But a quick text analysis found the key phrases and words used most often included childcare, flexible work, gender, leadership, unconscious bias and acceptance.
This is an overview of the 20 most prominent changes that you said need to take place.
1. Childcare. This came up over and over again and appeared to be the biggest pain point for readers. The childcare system isn’t meeting the current needs of families. It needs to be more accessible, affordable and flexible. Childcare should move from being a ‘women’s issue’ to a ‘societal issue’. Meanwhile, the importance of addressing the care system should also extend to before and after school care.
2. Mainstream flexible work. The ability to ask for flexible work, to pursue flexible careers and to successfully sustain a satisfying role flexibly, is vital for women — as it is for men too. Flexible work must move from being a ‘nice to offer working mothers’ to something that’s actively encouraged in order to create happier and more holistic human beings.
3. Equal pay for equal work. You’d think by 2015 we’d have this one figured out. But as data released yesterday from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows, the difference in base remuneration between men and women working full-time is now 19.9%. Equal pay for equal work is essential for improving the careers of women.
4. More female role models. We know they exist, but we don’t hear enough about them. They are not quoted enough in major newspapers, nor are their stories celebrated enough within organisations. Visible role models are necessary for inspiring ambitions in others, particularly in ensuring young women realise the full potential for their careers. We need to know more about just how certain female leaders have reached the position they’re in, to learn how they’ve personally overcome the barriers that stand in the way of so many others.
5. Address the imbalance. The juggling act — particularly the one that includes managing work, kids, home and other pressures — is hurting women. We need to better share the load between the genders, and to keep working at removing the social expectations that currently exist on men and women. If women are going to have a better chance at work, they need more help at home. A true, greater share of the domestic work — and a shift in ended stereotypes and assumptions regarding who takes on the caring responsibilities — will result in better opportunities for women in paid work.
6. Bring men into the discussion. As one reader put it: “Women need to stop talking to women about discrimination or ‘women’s issues’ and make the men the discussion’. We admit that on Women’s Agenda we can be a little guilty of directing the discussion at women, but men must also be engaged in order to facilitate. Or as another reader said: “We need to stop preaching to the converted – women – and inspire, encourage and support men to be the instruments of change.”
7. Less judgement, less guilt. Women have been given more choices over their careers, now it’s time to exercise it – without the added baggage of guilt and judgement. It’s up to women to determine if and how they’re going to pursue a career, which will ultimately give more men a choice too. It’s up to all of us to watch our language and actions when responding to the choices of others.
8. End the boys club. It’s still there, although changes dramatically in size according to where you work and the industry you work in. The so-called ‘boys club’ mentality has seen women miss out on opportunities — new roles, promotions and pay — for far too long and needs to be dismantled once and for all. Often, this means a significant overhaul of promotion and recruitment procedures.
9. Political action over rhetoric. Some of you lamented the fact that for all the talk of providing more equal opportunities for women there’s little action on the ground. Equality needs to be “championed” in politics, rather than being used as a vote winning mechanism. Indeed, it’d help to have more than one woman in Cabinet, no matter how many others are ‘knocking at the door’.
10. Quotas and transparency. A number of readers believe quotas are now necessary at the board level in order to see a greater representation of women. Transparency will also help: in hiring practices, in determining promotions, and promoting equal pay
11. Adjust the KPIs. The typical strengths and stereotypes regarding what makes an ideal leader are still heavily masculine, meaning female leaders are seen as ‘exceptions’ rather than the ‘norm’. We need to better appreciate the strengths, skills and attributes of women when determining a leader’s ‘performance’.
12. Highlight the benefits of gender equality. Improving the careers of women requires those in leadership to recognise how diversity, equality and closing the pay gap can actually benefit productivity. It’s not just the ‘right thing to do’ it’s the ‘smart thing to do’. Businesses need to acknowledge the power and opportunity in diverse thought and leadership
13. Make work better for ‘all’, not just women. The things that need to change for women at work must benefit everyone, no matter what their life circumstances. Good work practices will be celebrated and better appreciated if their benefits can be utilised by all.
14. Appreciate the value of part time employees. Part time workers make a significant contribution to the economy and to employers everywhere. We need to better acknowledge this contribution, remove any stigma associated with those who work ‘part time’ and watch assumptions made about the ambitions and dedication of those who work differently.
15. Admit and accept there is a problem. There’s conscious and unconscious bias still standing in the way of women. There’s sexism and discrimination. Before we can hope to eliminate these, we need to accept there’s a problem to know exactly what it is we’re trying to address. Admitting there’s a problem also means appreciating the personal contribution we can make for change. Women need to support women. Women need to support men. Men need to support women and men need to support men. If we want to see change, we have to find a way to make change accessible for all.
16. More training for women. The call isn’t for ‘more education’ but rather more training in areas that can directly contribute to opportunities — such as in personal branding, taking a risk, actively promoting your skills. Meanwhile, some readers noted we should encourage more women to pursue degrees that provide entry into male-dominated industries.
17. Women need to step up. Yep, there’s still a call for more women to take responsibility for their own careers and ambitions. As one reader put it: “[We need] women to see the value in themselves and what they bring to the table”.
18. Acknowledge rural women. There is untapped female talent and skills in rural communities, women who are under-employed outside of our major metropolitan areas due to a lack of opportunities, self belief and outright discrimination. Some are starting excellent businesses that require better recognition.
19. More community, more support. This came from one reader, and we thought it was worthy of its own point. As she writes: “More creation of community, breaking down the idea of being totally sel-sufficient, especially for single women”.
And the final thing that needs to change for women?
20. Give men wombs. That was one suggestion…. And wouldn’t that make for an interesting 2015!