How to celebrate Women’s History Month and promote gender equality year round
Women’s History Month is March in the United States, with International Women’s Day each March 8. Since the 1980s, this month has been dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in society and in the workplace. McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace report continues to find stagnant progress for women in the workplace with microaggressions (non-inclusive behavior), caretaking tasks, and the persistent broken rung (where only 81 women get promotions for every 100 men).
These numbers are not accelerating. The World Economic Forum estimates that gender equality will take another 134 years at the current rate of progress.
How do we accelerate change? Allies. We need people with power to advocate for the advancement of all genders in society and in the workplace. Those with power are heard differently and have access to the resources women need to advance. To be a better ally women’s history month and beyond, consider these ideas:
- Read more books written by women
- Challenge gender norms earlier in childhood development
- Call people in when they say or do something unhelpful or non-inclusive
Read More Books Written By Women
Women have surpassed men in advanced education and recently surpassed men in publishing books, a number that skyrocketed starting in the 1970s feminist movement. Many men and even many women do not read books written by women. This is a problem. We need to hear from a diverse array of voices about issues we care about, and that includes women. One of my favorite strategies to encourage reading books written by women that they might not otherwise do is to do a book swap. You suggest a book for them and be willing to read a book that they are interested in. That way you can both discuss the book together and have some mutual accountability. I often find that once people read one book written by a different author, they’re more likely to engage with other authors of other genders.
Challenge Gender Norms Earlier in Childhood Development
Did you know that when you ask young boys and girls alike to draw a picture of a leader, nearly 100% of the time, they draw a man? That’s because that is what they see. We have to see it to believe it. And, girls have to believe it to achieve it. When girls don’t see female leaders, they internalize that women are not leaders. Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in society and in leadership.
Gender socialization starts in the womb with gendered baby shower gifts and influences children and their expectations for themselves. We are all disadvantaged when children do not maximize their full potential. This shows up in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs where there is equitable gender representation until age 12 where girls internalize the belief that these fields are not for them. These industries are growing and there is not enough talent to do the jobs of the future. This hurts everyone.
Start the conversation earlier about gender equality. It could be as simple as reading biographies of women leaders, teaching your children about women leaders, or choosing to watch films and documentaries that support women equally. One of my personal favorites is Miss Representation. The Mask You Live In is also great option for boys. So, let’s change the narrative. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
Call People In When They Say or Do Something Unhelpful on Non-Inclusive
People will make mistakes. When people make a mistake or use an outdated gendered stereotype, call them in to do better. Say something like, “I know you to be open-minded, would you be open to some feedback about what you just said,” or “help me understand what you meant when you said that.” or simply “we don’t say that anymore.” If you don’t call them in, it’s likely to happen again and hurt someone else inadvertently. People usually have good intentions and just don’t realize the impacts of their words or actions. Call them in to be better and be patient with them as they learn and grow.
To support women’s history at work, it is critical that efforts exist beyond March to support Women’s History Month. Here are some options to consider for educational events at work:
- Allyship talks: We have a talk titled “Allyship in Action” with simple, fresh ideas to meet you where you are on your ally journey. Learn more here.
- Women’s leadership panels: Don’t have a budget to hire an outside speaker? Leverage the top talent you do have. Get a cross-section of diverse talent from different areas of the organization with different backgrounds. Ask them questions like “What was your career path?” “What barriers have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?” and “Who have been your allies and how have they supported you?” Open it for a Q&A.
- Lunch and learns: Get your team together and watch a video, discuss a book or podcast or host a webinar together. We have a full resources list with ideas to choose from.
Next Pivot Point offers custom education solutions and allyship programs to help you celebrate Women’s History Month and any other heritage or cultural celebration across the year. Looking for consistent, vetted content to keep inclusion in your newsletter or regular employee communications? Check out our Done-For-You Communication offering. Schedule some time with our team today to discuss next steps.