Put Women's History Month Into Action Year Round
Hemline | Tailored Brand Strategies
Because marketing that works never goes out of style.
By Andrea Wiley, Partner
Women’s History Month flew by in true March Madness style, shining a light on how far we have come in terms of gender equality and raising awareness about how far we still have to go. I am inspired and motivated to keep the momentum going and want to encourage you to do the same.?
International Women’s Day was recognized on March 8, which began in the early 1900s as part of the female suffrage and labor movements in North America and Europe. While many turned to social media to honor the day, recognize the important women in their lives and share the achievements made in the women’s rights movement, others hit the streets in protest around the world. Women demanded longer maternity leave in Thailand, better working conditions in Germany and ending femicide in Brazil.?
On a national level, we were astonished and entertained by Caitlin Clark, 22-year-old University of Iowa shooting guard, who became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both men’s and women’s basketball and went on to break several other records throughout the month. Ticket sales for the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four far outpaced the men’s, largely due to Clark’s popularity, and just like that, women’s sports are changed forever.?
Locally, I had the opportunity to be a panelist for a PRSA Memphis virtual event, “Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Communications.” The conversation was a good reminder that even though it is overwhelming to imagine how any of us can affect change at a global level, even at a national level, there is still so much that we can do locally to empower women to continue standing up and staying confident, both personally and professionally. To pursue leadership in companies and industries and break down barriers. To challenge stereotypes and create working environments where all women are valued and respected.
As women leaders, we must start talking about our lived experiences.?
At Memphis Women in Business, a local networking group of which I’m a member, we have frank discussions about the gender pay gap and how, on average, women in Memphis still earn 83 cents for every dollar that their male colleagues make. On the upside, Memphis is among the top 50 cities for female entrepreneurs to succeed.?
We discuss the sexual harassment we’ve all faced, from the implied to the overt. The promotions we were overlooked for and even denied when we asked for them directly. The lack of, but ever-growing, women role models we have in C-level positions. The choices we have made between motherhood and our careers due to lack of support from our employers and the flexibility necessary to balance both. The list, good and bad, seems unending.??
Historically, we have remained silent about these issues due to cultural norms and fear of the consequences. But the more we voice our lived experiences, the more we realize that others relate, the more empowered we are to stand up for ourselves and each other in new ways, and the more we take action toward lasting change.?
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As women leaders, we must advocate for ourselves and for each other.?
When I started my career more than 20 years ago, there were far fewer women in my office than there are today, even fewer in leadership positions. I did not have any women mentors to lean on in the companies where I worked. The shared perception was that there were only a few seats available for women to fill, which led to competition among us rather than camaraderie.?
Today, I see confidence replacing that competitiveness, and strong women intentionally guiding and uplifting others with less experience, less decision making power, and fewer opportunities and resources. But we must do more. We must lead by example, actively listen, mentor and give our younger counterparts the tools and resources that teach them to expect more and ask for more. There are so many women who have gotten us where we are today. It is our responsibility to keep that momentum going, to keep moving forward.?
As women leaders, we must inspire inclusion.?
Women’s History Month raises awareness about all that we have accomplished in business, in sports and in history, and serves as a reminder that as far as we’ve gone, there are still mighty roads to travel. Let’s go together.?
Here are a few resources for information, inspiration and connection for yourself and to inspire others throughout the year. Obviously, it is not an exhaustive list. Add to the conversation!?
Thank you for all you do to support women in business and the future generation of women leaders in Memphis and the world.