The renewed interest in the impact of female leaders has been highlighted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Countries such as New Zealand, Germany, Finland, & Taiwan whose heads of state are women, have been the most successful in handling the treacherous pandemic. This has highlighted how absurd the arguments in disfavour of placing women in power are. Yet not much has changed; gender bias in the political and corporate spheres remains omnipresent. Women are still less likely to be promoted to positions higher up in the corporate pyramid or to gain access to powerful political positions, and are more likely to be overlooked for a promotion. The obstacle of a patriarchal society is still insurmountable for many women looking to become entrepreneurs or looking to have a successful career. Women are constantly struggling to prove their worth in an environment that sees them as less competent, irrespective of their education, expertise, and experience already gained to successfully take on the role.
Gender equality is still an elusive phenomenon in our country and everywhere in the world.
This has to change.
Women in science and technology
Margaret Hamilton is a symbol of women scientists living in the shadow. She is a computer engineer who was a decisive force in landing a man on the moon. In 2016, 47 years later, Barack Obama, by awarding her the Medal of Freedom brought to light one of the first examples of recognition of the massive role women have had in the field of science and technology.
October 2020, also marks history, as it represents the first time a Nobel in science has been awarded to two women, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Ph.D., and Jennifer A. Doudna, Ph.D.
“This year’s prize is about rewriting the code of life,”
Goran K. Hansson, the secretary-general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, said during the announcement.
And there are many other efforts and initiatives in today’s society such as l’Oréal & UNESCO awards for women in science. Created in 1998, the International L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science honours- each year prominent women scientists from all over the world. These exceptional female researchers are rewarded for their important contributions to the progress of science, either in Life sciences or in the fields of Physical sciences, Mathematics and Computer science.
“The world needs Science and Science needs women”.
Many projects have been undertaken to raise awareness for the work of women in these high science fields. For instance, Orange Silicon Valley launched the Women in Tech initiative in late 2018 whose role is to allow professionals to meet regularly to discuss ways to make women's innovations more visible, accessible, and viable from a business perspective. This has led to the creation of both strong relationships between employees and future candidates, as well as role models for young girls to look up to.
“Women are often given subordinate roles. Even when their work was recognized at a certain point in time, they were subsequently forgotten and faded from history […]
The posterity of women scientists is a challenge. […] "
Explains Isabelle Collet, Professor of educational sciences at the University of Geneva.
Initially, there was a list of Women in Innovation that was published last year. To learn more about this list one should go to 2019 Watch list: Women in Innovation. The 2020 Watch List: Women in Innovation is made up of 35 women who are making an impact both Inside and Outside the organization, in large corporations and within small startups. These are the innovation thought leaders shaping innovation through research and publications, as well as working with the largest corporations and fastest startups on the planet.
Women on the topic of Diversity & Inclusion
Technology led by women has also been used to touch on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. For example, virtual reality headsets have been employed to give men a sense of what it is like to work as a woman in the workplace.
Whilst visibility and representation of the female cause are crucial, they are not synonymous with inclusion. That is not to say that one is more important than the another; both the representation and inclusion of women are needed.
Many women in positions of power and influence, who manage teams and have a leadership position, nevertheless could harbor a sense of illegitimacy and although they are strong and show deep perfectionism ... they too often do not dare to talk about themselves as "leaders".
Indeed, across various sectors, the lack of inclusion is represented by the phenomenon of the "imposture syndrome". This was first coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. It is broadly defined as the sense of inadequacy a person might feel in positions of power, as if they were not qualified or even deserving of their role. Such a syndrome is most prevalent in women, but is widely regarded as 'taboo' in our society. It has been found that female leaders experience IF to a higher degree than men. More than half (54%) of the women scored frequent or high versus a quarter (24%) of men. Unconscious bias around gender and leadership is a likely contributing factor, the researchers stated. NatWest has tried to tackle this problem with the #OwnYourImposture campaign to encourage others to discuss these feelings. However, dealing with these feelings takes time and confidence, which makes it all the more difficult to solve.
“Be yourself and unleash your potential is the motto based on the idea that being yourself and voice it is the best way to improve your performance and be a player for change. A strong conviction that works everywhere as EVE is as successful in Evian than in Asia or Africa!”
Said Anne Thevenet-Abitbol, Founder of the EVE Program.
EVE is an international transformational program which was launched in 2010 by Danone and supoorted by several companies to help women BREAK the “Glass Ceiling”. This program brings together women and enlightened men in reverse proportion to what is generally seen in the top of the companies: 80% women and 20% men. Together they will better understand mutual responsibilities with regard to the “Glass Ceiling”.
Indeed, only organizations that foster truly inclusive cultures - cultures that embrace women who look, act and, importantly, THINK differently - can reach their full potential to positively impact their people, their markets and their communities.
Diversity is a fact while inclusion is a choice!
Role models as a source of inspiration
Like with many social issues, change must come from the top as well as from the bottom. For instance, both inter organizational campaigns are necessary to improve the 'visible' symptoms of sexism in workplaces. It is as important, if not more so, to find role models and recognize the strength of sisterhood in order to empower young girls to break the status quo. To be a role model one does not necessarily have to be at the helm of power. Every fighter is a role model for another woman, no matter what her role in society or job. So, let’s listen to them, to each other and echo our voices to bring out the power in every woman.
“Yet we know that by age 6, children are beginning to classify jobs along gender lines, and by the age of 12, 50% of girls aspire to gender stereotyped roles. This can have a huge impact on decisions which they make about their future education and career direction.”
Said Miriam González Durántez, Founder and Leader of Inspiring Girls.
Through cutting-edge discussions, and inspiring speakers, we will explore what it means to build back better and reshape the world together.
There are many female associations and programs which are leading the topic of age such as , www.womens-forum.com, https://womenininnovation.co/, https://www.eveprogramme.com/en/, https://inspiring-girls.com/who-we-are
Let’s join forces, claim our power and our diversity so that future generations can experience leadership and power as something obvious, equally open to any candidate, whether male or female.
Let’s join forces, to help the next generation of women leaders find their own seat at the table, their own way to a blossoming life”
By women For women.
Fariel DIF
