International Women’s Day 2022

“We need to shatter glass ceilings – women and girls need reminding that careers have no gender. We must not limit the dreams and imaginations of women and girls.”

I have worked for Barod for 11 years and I am proud to be a female in a senior management position. I realise that I am in a minority. From a personal perspective, I am incredibly proud to have beaten cancer too.

Having entered my leadership career at a young age (21), I quickly realised how hard I had to work to have the same opportunities as my male counterparts. I was overlooked for promotion, paid below the advertising salary when offered my first leadership position and have experienced sexual harassment within my workplace (none of which was with Barod). I have had to speak truth to power on many occasions where I have witnessed or been the person experiencing injustice.

Being a feminist who believes in the equality of opportunity – I have nurtured and inspired other female leaders. Other women are not our competition – they are our allies. I have trained and empowered and believed in the next generation of female leaders helping them to realise their potential and sharing my top tips to surviving at the top in a male-dominated world.

There are many things that can and need to be done to move closer to a more gender equal world, including:

• Talk to women and girls – in every realm – too often the voices of women and girls are excluded from global and national decision-making. When policies, technology, research are all designed without women’s needs in mind – we set ourselves up to fail.
• Shatter glass ceilings – women and girls need reminding that careers have no gender. We must not limit the dreams and imaginations of women and girls. We needs to be better at providing women and girls with images and role models that expand their thinking and break the stereotypes about what jobs women can do. Women can be engineers, managers, entrepreneurs…women can be anything they want to be.
• Share household chores and childcare equally.
• Actively reject and challenge chauvinist or misogynistic attitudes and behaviours. From catcalling, mansplaining, inappropriate sexual jokes – speak up.
• Pay the same salary for equal work.
• Women should exercise their political rights – VOTE! Stay informed on upcoming elections and spread the word about strong women candidates.
• Teach girls their worth and challenge what it means to be a man – how many times have we seen assertive women labelled as bossy? Or the sayings “Man up”, “Boys don’t cry” or “boys will be boys”. Gender equality is hugely influenced by the subtle language that is used day to day. Remind girls that they are more than their appearance – compliment them on their intelligence, athleticism and strength. Show them that their thoughts matter just as much as men. Interrupt traditional notions of masculinity and lets form a new stereotype that masculinity includes vulnerability, sensitivity and care-taking. Let them know their feelings are valid.

To #BreakTheBias, I commit to using my voice and position to keep breaking the bias on the agenda.

“Education about inclusion, diversity and equality from a very early age would have a positive impact in creating a more gender equal world”

I feel my greatest achievement was completing a BA Honours and master’s degree whilst working full time.  I think I am most proud of completing the BA as at this time in my life, I was also bringing up two children as a single parent.

I believe we all have a lollipop effect in us, a time when we can positively affect someone else and for me, one moment that pops to mind and that I most treasure, is when I had an old school pupil message me to thank me for believing in him when he was finding school challenging, and wanted to tell me how well he is doing in life now.

However, we still have a long way to go to building a world free of bias and discrimination, especially around gender. Education about inclusion, diversity and equality from a very early age would have a positive impact in creating a more gender equal world.  Normalising differences and acceptance is also key in moving forward.

To #BreakTheBias I commit to continuing to respect and provide compassion and understanding for each individual person, in what they believe in and for who they are.

 

“To #BreakTheBias, we should be telling the younger generation that they can be anything they want to be, and it is not reliant on their gender.”

At 31 years old, my daughter suffered an AVM rupture twice and a subsequent stroke.  Using my Degree’s USP (Communication Theory) of ‘All behaviour is communication’ to its full advantage, this provided me the foundation to support her, through medical discussions and decisions, medical interventions (brain surgery) and recovery, whilst respecting her wishes. Everything I had achieved, learned and had become, was utilised to get through the situation.  It was a character building time in my life, and you don’t truly realise how strong one person can be until it is called upon, it was my defining moment as a human being, not just as a woman!

To look at me I appear ‘normal’ but I have an underlying health condition which can affect my quality of life.  However, I do not use the condition to define who I am, ‘it’ lives with me, I don’t live with ‘it’. Yes it places certain limitations on my life e.g. can’t lift, but I do not see myself as a ‘victim’ and never say ‘I suffer with ….’, feeling sorry for myself – I don’t have the victim mentality.  Hence sharing my philosophy has helped numerous people in coming to terms with their condition, and find ways they can adapt and lead fulfilling lives.

To move closer to a gender equal world, we should, and need, to tell the younger generation that they can be anything they want to be, and it is not reliant on their gender, providing any appropriate information and supporting them in making informed decisions.

I like to feel I smash the stereotypes of those associated to people who identify as female. I am honest with what I do. I lead by example, e.g. build stones walls in the garden, do DIY (had a hammer drill as a Christmas present), and ask questions, e.g. exactly ‘why’ can’t you do that because you are female, you are more than that? Followed by ‘What can we do to make that happen?’ – share the responsibility if required. If we were to live in a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination, I would be surrounded in society by more people who think and act like me!

To #BreakTheBias, I commit to standing up for those who don’t feel able to voice their opinions, offering support where need, and helping to pave the way for the next generation – they are our future!