Women’s day – 8th March

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Women’s day – 8th March

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Once again, like an annual feature, Women’s Day comes up on the calendar. Speeches are made and the oft lament on ‘Every day is a Women’s’ day’ not just a symbolic annual thought.

?A few ‘high profile’ women are showcased together, along with a few supportive men and a panel discussion engagement kicks off the celebrated event. Some organisations present a rose to each woman, highlight their appreciation even while women respond to share how supportive and empathetic men have been behind their success. HR will step in and talk about progress being made by extended maternal leave, POSH compliance in the workplace, and various initiatives on Inclusion and Diversity. Media hypes up the day, with a few sound bites, that makes everyone ‘feel good’.

?I argue that most current attempts in India to deal with these issues are tokenism and symbolism, but hardly any real action. The issue of women and their challenges are systemic and need to be looked at from that lens. The issue of women in the workplace is one that has been hotly debated for years. Despite progress in many areas, it is clear that this is still a problem that is not taken seriously enough in many organizations. There are many reasons why this is the case, and each of them is cause for concern.

?The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual Global Gender Gap Report (March 2021) measures progress towards gender equality across four key areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. The report notes that progress towards gender parity has been slow and estimates that it will take another 135.6 years to close the overall global gender gap. This estimate is based on the current rate of progress and the assumption that trends will continue in the future.

?Irrespective of what career a woman may pursue and however successful she may be, at home - she is considered a family member more than anything else. She is expected to be the caretaker, provide food, comfort and take care of the household chores. In my book, TIBAW, I narrate a story told by Indra Nooyi of how when one day she entered home and excitedly told her mother that she had very good news to share. The mother interrupted her and said that her story could wait and that she should first fetch milk. The mother was very clear that whatever “crown Indra wore at work must be left behind when she enters home”.

?In India, the traditional role of women has undergone considerable change. With improvement in education of women, wider opportunities for work outside the home, and with improved inclusion and diversity practice, the role of women in the family and society has expanded considerably. Yet, inequities exist. In my book I discuss glass ceiling, and other interesting definitions like the Leaky Pipeline, the broken rung, pay differences and several other myths that abound. I examine historical and social forces that have influenced this inequality over the ages, and I go beyond the gender argument to make a case for inclusion.

?Zia Mody argues, “… Hire us because you want to, because we are good and because you are willing to train us and invest in us; not because you have to…”

?Let us start by doing a few things:

?Firstly, Listen to Women and their challenges: it is clear that there is a lack of understanding among many people about the challenges that women face in the workplace. This is partly due to the fact that many people simply do not take the time to listen to women and understand their experiences. Instead, they dismiss their concerns as being overblown or trivial. This is a grossly unfair attitude that only serves to perpetuate the problem. Once as CHRO, I decided to offer ‘additional allowance’ to cover for Creche expenses only to realise that Young Mothers wanted a safe place at work tom bring their babies too. While I focussed on reimbursement, I missed the real issue because I was not listening.

?Secondly, there is a lack of commitment among many organizations to addressing this issue. While there are certainly some companies that are making an effort to improve the situation for women in the workplace, far too many are content to pay lip service to the idea without taking any real action. This is unacceptable, and it shows a complete lack of respect for the women who work for these organizations. Our Indian parliament has been for years pushing away a reservation for women, and at the Board Level, despite women directors being mandated, there is breech.

?Thirdly, it is clear that there are still many people who simply do not believe that women are capable of performing certain roles in the workplace. This is a deeply ingrained attitude that is based on nothing more than outdated stereotypes and prejudices. It is a disgrace that this kind of thinking still exists in the 21st century, and it is high time that it was challenged and eradicated once and for all. Patriarchy exists for centuries and denies women both access and opportunity.

?Finally, it is clear that there are still far too many instances of discrimination against women in the workplace. This can take many different forms, from unequal pay to harassment and bullying. Whatever form it takes, it is a stain on the reputation of any organization that allows it to happen. I have provided several examples in my book.

?In conclusion, the issue of women in the workplace is one that is not taken seriously enough in many organizations. There are many reasons for this, but each of them is cause for concern. If we are to make progress in this area, we must all take a stand and demand that our workplaces are fair and equal for everyone, regardless of their gender.

?I would like to end by arguing a woman’s voice (heard or ignored) is present in every facet of social life. We need to go beyond the attention to women’s well-being but to the more important aspect of a woman’s own agency. In this, she will impact and influence all men, women, and children. Gender sensitivity is not about correcting the balance, it is a way to lift society itself. It is time human centricity replaces Patriarchy.