*sigh* “We are meeting because we’re prime ministers.” (A Masterclass in Responding to Gender Bias)

Last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin held a press conference. There, a reporter lobbed a sexist question, wondering aloud if the leaders were meeting because they were both young women. *sigh*

Ardern and Marin have long faced questions about their age and gender, and once again had elegant and perfect responses.

“I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age,” Ardern interjected with a smile, referencing two former leaders who are five days apart in age.

When it was her turn to speak, Marin added simply, "We are meeting because we're prime ministers." ??

I must admit, when I was a young professional, people often made misogynistic or sexist comments to me or in my presence. I typically felt frozen, a common response to any type of discrimination. However, I am heartened by the positive change in workplace culture. While gender bias in the workplace is still common, many environments foster a culture where it’s encouraged to call this behavior out. Often, sexist microaggressions are a result of subconscious biases that people don't even realize they have.?

But still, misogynistic questions and jokes are something women deal with daily. Last year, the world’s richest man Elon Musk tweeted that he was going to start a “T.I.T.S.” University with “epic merch” that would be “universally admired.” *sigh* Really? How could Mr. Musk not understand how infuriating that comment is, especially given his position of power?

Let’s be very clear – it is never a woman’s obligation or responsibility to shout back, but here are some possible ways to handle sexist remarks if you feel comfortable doing so:

1. Let Your Allies Step In. Couldn’t love this response to Mr. Musk's tweet more ????

Dear allies, a surefire way to fuel your resolve is to ask yourself: would you want someone to make this comment to your daughter, niece, or sister?

2. Practice Your Bemused (Witty) Reaction. “Did you really just say that… in a meeting?” I've used this response several times, and it's always worked well. Typically, the colleague who made the remark sheepishly apologizes. Important - use your superpowers to stay calm, collected, and professional. Here is another brilliant approach ????

3. Call it Out Directly– But From a Place of Being on the Same Team. The Muse example: “Ooh, it kind of sounds like you’re calling our women customers dumb— it’s a good thing the rest of the team wasn’t around!” Explain why you were troubled by the comment and how it reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. Make it clear that these comments aren't good for business.

4. Report Comments to HR or a Mentor. Especially as a young professional, you may feel uncomfortable addressing comments directly, but know that you’re not alone. Know and leverage your company process and allies in addressing the issue “behind the scenes.”

As we approach 2023, most workplaces are moving toward becoming more inclusive, and most people will appreciate you playing a role in calling out inappropriate comments or behavior. Following the Ardern and Marin press conference, the social media reaction was swift and critical. "He was one sentence away from asking the prime ministers if they met to talk about boys and if their periods have synced up yet," one journalist tweeted.?

Keep going, ladies. ???? The more we all (allies included) take a stand in calling out cultural missteps, the closer we will get to a culture of equality that enables everyone to thrive.

--- Sheri West, Chief LiveGirl ??. psst pretty please share this newsletter with a friend!

?? Better Things, just finished season 5

?? Michelle Obama's The Light We Carry is the light we all need rn. Olivia West and I had the opportunity to catch her on her Philadelphia book tour!! ??

??: anything gingerbread (esp my gingerbread cuppa tea)