There are unlimited initiatives that aim to empower women in the
workplace yet not much recruitment for women into roles they are qualified for
and or are male dominated. Women are still limited in improving their economic,
social and educational situations. It is hard for women to thrive in their
careers if we have less of them in the boardrooms, executive teams or as senior
managers. They have the last say in workplace policies and strategies to bridge
the unequal gender gap in the workplace. Women subject to sexual favours and
other indecent acts to get the same opportunities men get merely by gender. This
article discusses some challenges women face in the workplace and growing their
careers.
It is as if being a woman, I need to earn the same respect,
opportunity by working extremely hard while less or equally qualified men
merely have to prove anything. We need to understand fully the challenges women
face in growing their careers and the strategies that will uplift and truly
acknowledge women. How do we expect strategies and policies to fully develop or
implement if regulators do not represent women in the workplace?
Many women face deprivation of promotions and new endeavours due
to pregnancy. This is clear discrimination. It is as if a mother’s brain pauses
during pregnancy, let alone before the baby turns a year. New fathers are never
deprived as new mothers are. They prosper in their careers and the belief is
that they can handle anything. A working new mother may be given flexible
working hours to manage through new endeavours or promotions. COVID19 has
proved that working from home is now very possible through technology and good time
management. We should allow women the same career growth men enjoy despite the
natural process of pregnancy. It is even worse when women are married. They are
challenged in growing their careers as opportunities are withheld from them to
“take care of the family”. Women should choose how they manage their personal
affairs themselves and thriving at work should not be questioned by family or
marital statuses.
I remember earlier in my work life when a male colleague who I had
no sexual or relationship interest in hit my butt slightly but intentionally. It
happened repeatedly over weeks until I sent him a warning email. I should have
made a formal complaint immediately. Sexual offenders get away with a lot and instil fear and
uneasiness in their victims. It needs to end and first we must speak about it.
In fact, the
offenders go on to get the promotions and preference at work over
qualified-deserving women while women continue to be suffer. Many women
experience sexual harassment in the workplace and it can be worse than what I
experienced. Sometimes the offender is someone who is in a position to mentor,
hire or promote the victim. The whole experience is traumatizing and sensitive
to discuss and many victims are forced to never speak about it openly even if
they wished. It is mentally draining when you have been sexually harassed and it affects work performance. In the now if any colleague dares to harass another, dare to
report it and let the law take its cause.
Women clothing is scrutinized to a point were gender-biases are
noticed. I know that in my field of study for instance, a woman deems unfit for
an Information Technology or Computer Science job if she wears heels and
lipstick. It is as if being in IT means a woman must present herself manly and
nerdy. It is daunting that more emphasis is put on how women dress instead of
the skills and knowledge they possess. Of course, there are exemptions of jobs
where one may not be able to perform work with certain clothing. It is not
understandable how I am expected to wear no high heels, a dress and lipstick
for a Software Engineering or Business/Systems Analyst role. Women continue to
face judgement in their choice of clothing at work. I have not heard of men
confrontational sessions for their clothing. Many freely wear tight pants that display
clear protrusion of their manhood and butt without Human Resource objection.
Can we all just wear clothing we are comfortable working in or allow
dressing-code restrictions that are not gender biased?
I will not do any justice if I forget to mention the race issue.
Women of color have challenges in getting specialized and critical roles in
certain industries. It is sad that racism is still a thing women of color have
to deal with even in their continent of origin. It is a thing of the lighter
the skin shade the luckier and more preferred a woman is to succeed in her
career. There are certain jobs and in many industries where women are
discriminated against because of their skin color not to forget the tribalism
problem. They are deprived and belittle even though qualified to do the job.
Somehow, men of color do not face the same problem as much as women do.
Women are increasingly enrolling to study in fields of STEM
(Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) which are male dominated from the
industry leaders to the employees. Men not only head majority of STEM divisions
but across all divisions and industries locally and internationally. The
dominance is disturbing. The Affirmative Action concerning women is currently
at little practice. Women with no political or wealth connection usually must
prove themselves more than men for the same work opportunities or funding
opportunities. It is one thing to talk Women Empowerment and another to
blindly-exclude women in positions that they are empowered and qualified to
have. More women get recruitment in supervisory positions to blind the sight of
the Reality of Male Dominance in decision-making, strategic, critical and
specialized skilled jobs. This is absurd strategy. Qualified women are fit for
the highest level of authority and leadership.
In conclusion, these are very brief challenges women face at work
because of their gender. There are a million more unmentioned. We need to deal
with the scarcity and deprivation of opportunities for qualified and capable women.
We need to take up space in unchartered waters and demand what is of deserving
for women and women must do it for themselves too. Women must demand the
respect and treatment they are not given. It will start with being disgusted by
the status quo, speaking about it and demanding change.
