Voices Unveiled

????????? In our lives, we encounter confident and powerful women just as frequently as we do men, but what distinguishes these women and what inspires us about them? To delve into this question, we must recognize that the ability to have a voice is not uncommon, yet for women, having their voices heard has historically been the exception rather than the rule. To truly grasp the roots of this phenomenon, it's essential to rewind the clock of history. In her book "Power and Women: A Manifesto," Mary Beard adeptly illustrates the enduring trend of silencing Western women throughout the ages. Through classical literary references, Beard offers compelling evidence of how Western culture and thinking have consistently marginalized women's voices. Whether it's Telemachus instructing his mother, Penelope, to silence herself and confine her opinions to the realm of women or Zeus resorting to violence when Hera disagrees with the course of the Trojan War, the annals of history have largely been controlled by men. From the earliest days of written Western society, it has been ingrained in our collective consciousness that women should not have a legitimate voice in public discourse. This pervasive notion has even found its way into our humor, exemplified by sayings like, "Everyone knows that behind closed doors, she wears the pants."

Language, which has its roots in the oral traditions of ancient Western civilizations, continues to perpetuate the silencing of women. Many languages, including Spanish, French, and German, employ grammatical gender, categorizing words as either masculine or feminine—a concept often emphasized by foreign language instructors during students' formative years in high school. The choice of language we use profoundly influences our cognitive processes and shapes our worldview. The act of assigning gender to words and phrases consequently leads us down a cognitive path that fosters distinct perceptions of men and women. Even in languages where grammatical gender is absent, such as English, there persist positive associations with words linked to men, while words associated with women often carry negative connotations. Expressions like "manpower" and "right-hand man" are masculine phrases denoting individuals society regards as authoritative or desirable to hear from, whereas terms like "Debby Downer" and "whiny" are feminine expressions used to describe individuals whom nobody wishes to lend an ear to. This linguistic bias can significantly impact how we perceive and evaluate individuals based on their gender.

This was a long time ago, though, right? Centuries ago. Western society has progressed to the point where a woman's voice is heard just as equally as a man's. Surely, we've gotten better. You'd think that is the case. Yet, in 2016, Raheem Kassam, the UK Independence Party candidate, tweeted about First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: "Can someone just, like … tape Nicola Sturgeon’s mouth shut?" In 2017, Tony Abbot suggested that Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins should "pull her head in," or, shut up and mind her own business. Later that same year, sports anchor Jemele Hill was suspended for her public support of NFL players' peaceful protests, something that no male sports anchor experienced.

The business imperative of recognizing and valuing women's voices directly impacts the bottom line. Sustainable and successful enterprises thrive on the inclusion of women in leadership roles, a fact consistently substantiated by numerous studies. Companies with a diverse mix of male and female executives consistently outperform those predominantly led by men. The introduction of women into boardrooms injects diversity and a wealth of experience into the decision-making process, thereby enhancing profitability. Strategically, women bring to the table qualities such as persistence, emotional intelligence, a natural inclination towards collaboration, and adept networking. Tactically, women excel in multitasking, communication, and meticulous planning. Thus, leveraging women's contributions necessitates acknowledging and amplifying their voices.

Having a voice doesn’t mean literal voice, but the ability to speak up, to participate, to be taken seriously.

However, hearing and comprehending a woman's voice, especially for those conditioned to unconsciously silence them, demands intentionality and a different approach. Actively listening to women requires dedication and is often more challenging than listening to male counterparts. Women's voices possess a nuanced and melodic quality that activates distinct cognitive processes. Consequently, individuals, particularly men, must invest greater effort in listening attentively to women, relinquishing distractions, interpreting non-verbal cues, and focusing on understanding their words rather than formulating responses.

Crucially, stop interrupting women during conversations. Women frequently encounter being talked over, interrupted, marginalized, ignored, and penalized for expressing their opinions, and this problem is more pronounced than for men. Because women tend to speak up only when they are confident in their knowledge, men must exhibit patience and allow women to complete their thoughts. Employing amplification, a meeting strategy wherein men actively ensure that women's voices are heard by curbing interruptions, repeating their statements, and crediting them for their ideas, is vital. Women themselves should advocate for their voices to be heard, a skill that often requires directly requesting that others refrain from interrupting.

Listen actively - to what is said

Amplify - so others hear

Clarify - to understand

In conversations where the listener finds it challenging to engage with and frequently interrupt the speaker, clarifying assumptions becomes imperative to avoid misunderstandings. Clarification, rather than assuming shared meanings, is essential. According to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, one of the most significant actions men can take to improve women's workplace experiences is to "stop making assumptions." Effective communication entails asking for clarification and ensuring shared understanding, setting aside preconceived notions.

Finally, we dispel stereotypes. Women who assert themselves or exhibit decisiveness are often wrongly perceived as abrasive or rude in professional settings. This bias does not apply to men displaying similar traits, who are instead seen as confident and effective leaders. Eradicating stereotypes is essential; assertive women should not be stigmatized as "difficult" or "unfeminine." Gender should not determine how assertiveness is interpreted. A straightforward statement like "This must be completed by Monday" should be equally acceptable regardless of the speaker's gender.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, success hinges on embracing and genuinely considering all voices and ideas. Enterprises and teams that prioritize inclusivity and empower women to voice their perspectives reap rewards such as increased business, higher profits, and more contented employees. It is high time we discard ingrained cultural norms that dictate how women's voices are perceived and adopt strategies that foster their meaningful contributions to business