The struggle and fight for equality is not of today, and it has been around for many generations. Many revolutions have begun, rebellions have been born, poetries have been scribbled, and scriptures have been etched. The battles have achieved a lot over the centuries, and we have come far ahead. But somewhere, we still have a long way to go. We still have benchmarks to set, standards to raise, stereotypes to break and goals to achieve that wait in the lane ahead. This fight over equality isn’t endless, but it hasn’t ended.
Women in Leadership
The globally acclaimed superpower of the world, the USA, which is said to be the land of freedom and stands as a hallmark for liberty, still haven’t witnessed a single Female President in its long span of democracy. The decade-long proposal of reserving seats for women in both houses of the Indian Parliament is hitherto all but a proposal. This exemplifies that “women in leadership or power” is still a concept, not an acute reality. The role of women in influential positions and power stands at the forefront of the gender-disparity debate. Modern-day minds have realised the importance of both males and females in decision-making.
Recently, the slogan “nothing about her without her” has gained popularity. The saying born out of “nothing about us without us” calls for representation only with direct participation. The landmark judgment of Joe Vs Wade has sparked many debates and deliberations on including women in important decisions, especially those involving them.
Certain steps can be practised to promote female leadership:
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Recruiting Females Actively
Enterprises and firms should consider the gender gap in their portfolios and workplace. After assessing the same, the goal should be to bridge the gap by hiring more female employees. Although gender shouldn’t be the sole criteria for recruitment, it should be kept in mind the importance of raising women to higher positions and having an equality-friendly workplace. While recruitment, women should be treated on the same skill set and at par with men. Their abilities and skills shouldn’t be ignored because they are of a specific gender.
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Training Opportunities
Organising workshops and providing personality-building seminars is a step forward towards promoting gender equality. Leadership training, confidence building, and interacting and networking with women leaders can substantially help women grow and hold power and positions.
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Flexible work schedules
Giving extra benefits to someone isn’t a hindrance to equality but an opportunity for the needy to come to par with everyone. Companies should allow flexible work hours for women, if not everyday, then occasionally, along with letting them avail woke from home on some days. Granting sick leave or holidays can also help mothers give their children time and have a decent work-life balance.
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Encourage a women-friendly workplace environment
It’s crucial to create an environment in the workplace that is free of bias. A workplace environment that respects and holds women equally can progress in the long run. Strict policies should be made for the prevention of workplace harassment and should be followed ardently.
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Equal Opportunity and providing other support
The wage disparity between males and females is still prevalent. Sometimes women working the same hours as men and at equal positions receive lower wage than men. Organisations should include provisions that prevent these practices and provide equal opportunity to all genders.
Women often find it hard to balance work, life and family efficiently. Providing women employees with external support can help ease their life. Paid maternity leave, job protection for pregnant workers, affordable childcare and elder care, are some policy changes that can be prioritised. Change doesn’t happen in a day, but it’s the effort of every single minute of the day that sums up revolution and improvement.
