The United Nations SDG defines gender equality as not only a fundamental right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. A society where half of the population is not given the opportunity to produce, express, innovate and help in the global economic pie will have a growth curve exponentially lower than the one where all individuals are motivated to contribute to their full capacity. Women have been subordinated and exploited for ages and the trend has translated into contemporary times without much evolution. This not only violates their basic rights and sabotages the principle of a free & fair society but also shuns their growth and the development of society as a whole. To live in a balanced and progressive society means to understand differences among people, then may it be in terms of gender, sex, sexuality, race, caste, ethnicity, etc; and promote individuals to thrive in the areas of their strength rather than holding them back on basis of certain communal prejudices.
Orion Square, the organiser of the event, is also working towards building such a sustainable society. The VONG movement under Orion square aims to inspire young minds to revolutionise gender identity and envision a transformed society that professes equality and sustainability. On 13th March 2022, Orion Square organised an Instagram live event to discuss the topics of gender equity and growth. The esteemed guest speaker of the event, Diya Kapur Misra, enlightened the students about the importance of gender equality & equity and how it can be practised to achieve a society where individuals belonging to all genders succeed and impact society.
Guest Speaker:
DIYA KAPOOR MISHRA- leadership advisor|coach| DEI champion.
She is also a member of Top Voices of Gender Equity, Linkedin, and is working with women leaders and young people to enable growth and development and to provoke agility and inclusiveness.
What do gender equality and equity mean? What are the gender equity measures required to level the opportunity stand for all?
Gender equality and equity are not interchangeable terms as opposed to common conception. Gender equality is the end while gender equity is the means to reach the end. Equality is when every individual is provided with equal opportunities. But equity stands for a system where disadvantaged individuals are aided in special ways while keeping their differences in mind. Women have been subordinated for centuries on end and some constructive affirmative actions are essential to bridge the rift created over such a long period of time.
There are 3 steps to bridging the gap and creating an equitable environment for women to grow in.
- The first step toward change is acknowledging the need for change. We as a society are required to address the shortcomings of the status quo as an oppressive system of institutions that depicts straight males or masculinity as ideal. The people belonging to the rest of the gender/sexuality spectrum are marginalized and ostracized for their differences. Once the cruel reality is accepted and differences are normalised the next step can be taken into consideration.
- Finding the solution to level the platform- We can expect a section of the society, that has been subjugated for so long, to rise from the ashes on its own. Thus, constructive affirmative actions are a prerequisite to providing equal opportunities. Traditionally, reservation is used as a constructive affirmative action in bridging inequalities.
- Merit- In the wake of affirmative actions like quotas and reservations, merit is compromised in many cases. But merit and continuous effort towards helping women succeed should be kept in consideration as entry-level quotas do not ensure their fair treatment inside the organizations.
“If gender equality is the end, gender equity is the means”
– Katica Roy
According to the statistics, only 7% of women are represented at the board level in companies and organizations. The largest population of the gender spectrum, i.e. women, is not even in a good place to begin thinking about LGBTQ+. Is patriarchy playing a big role in this issue? Or are there any other prominent factors contributing to the same?
There are 2 major causes of the above-mentioned problem-
- Patriarchy- Male-dominance, toxic masculinity, male-hegemony, or whatever other flashy name you give it, patriarchy has been a major contributor to women’s suffering since the start till now. The biases and subordination originated in patriarchy is perpetrated by both men and women.
- The mind-set of women themselves- Women have to go through a mindset shift and aspire to succeed in whatever field they find themselves in. Women tend to incline towards putting their family above their careers and therefore, end up suppressing their professional aspirations. They need to understand that their professional and personal lives can go hand-in-hand by defining some boundaries, making a work-life balance and investing in themselves more.
In totality, to shift the power dynamics, we have to work with women and men both along with the organizations and media. Media that propagates biases and organizations that act on those prejudices are to be transformed. Along with tokenism of reservations and quotas for a symbolic purpose, much deeper intervention and more robust programs are required to change the social structure.
What are some of your experiences of gender equality done right?
Diya, our guest, recalls that being raised in an unbiased environment was a great starting point for her which she initially ignored unless she come out in the real world. There are many organisations and companies that have adopted the gender-equal model and promote employees purely on basis of the talent and what they bring to the table. The times have changed in the way that despite seeing gender as a non-issue they now are working constructively in the inclusion of individuals belonging to genders other than men.
But there is still a disparity in the support provided to women restarting their careers after maternity absence. The biological changes that a woman goes through during this period are incomparable and it’s not easy to transition smoothly into being a full-time worker after that. Organizations must enable women to transition back to their duties and try to be supportive of them in this period. This also increases the credibility and loyalty dynamics in the employ and employer relation. Similarly, girls dropping out of school are maximum in the years of 9- 12 because they feel the pressure of the responsibilities of the household. That’s an important period to ensure the education of the girls is given priority above everything else.
What are some of the things that these organizations are doing right in making sure that gender equilibrium is maintained?
There are many things that some organizations are inculcating in their administration that should be normalized such as-
- Hiring more women- Of course, it needs more effort to reach out and include the talent pools of women but it is very important to improve the percentages at the entry-level.
- Leadership – Focusing on underrepresented cohorts like that of women and LGBTQ+ community individuals are important in terms of encouraging leadership and soft skill development so that they can grow in the organization.
- Mentorship- If a woman or a transgender person is struggling in the office environment and they have no one to look up to and see as a role model then they won’t be able to achieve to their full capacity. So, creating diversity at the top and role models for every section of people is essential as well.
Although there is a change seen in the last 12 to 18 months, where a lot of CEOs are actively engaging in making gender balance and gender equality a mainstream narrative, the levels below the CEOs haven’t seen the trickle-down effect due to cynicism, antagonism, or disbelief. It might be because it has become fashionable and mandatory for the people at the top but the executive part of the company administration is still not receptive to the change at all which is where organizations are lacking.
Do women also lack confidence or motivation to go all the way to the top or is it the lack of family support?
Women often underestimate the impact that we can create in the places of work and in society in general. They tend to make sacrifices and compromise themselves and their success in order to fit better in the molds of an ideal wife or mother or daughter-in-law.
Women need to learn to assign their priorities and invest time in themselves and their careers but it can not be done without the support system at home and offices (mentors and sponsors). It has to be built consciously by the people around them as well as themselves.
“Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t achieve. Just don’t allow it. It’s wrong. Be what you want to be- and prove them wrong”
– Emma Watson
The burden on women has increased in the COVID-19 times significantly. Has pandemic affected gender equity and what can be done to make sure that women do not fall further behind in these times?
Due to remote working the caregiving time and energy required by parents and children have increased. Women find themselves easily disturbed and distracted when they work from home because they are required to serve the other members of the family when they are around. This is also a testament to how less importance is given to working women’s jobs in comparison to men in the same household. It comes down to the multitasking skill of the women working from home and their ability to set boundaries and prioritize time.
Women have a strong emotive pull and to balance these dichotomies that exist between being a dedicated worker and a caring family member, they need to make the right choices and see what works for us in the situation.
The financial inclusion of women is extremely critical. How can a more financially inclusive system be built for women to be independent?
Financial dependence can lead to the subjugation of women in the family. Earning and supporting yourself also builds self-belief and enriches capability. Many women don’t get the chance or the education to build a fairly paying career for themselves and they end up being considered a liability and a burden in the family. It is the vicious cycle that goes on for generations until they get an employment worthy education and a working environment that fulfils their financial requirement as well as their productive hunger. Even women who earn enough should invest more in themselves so that their capabilities increase over time.
What can the younger generation do to bring a change in society?
The younger generation is much more courageous and confident at questioning the status quo. This is a very positive trait and generates hope towards change. Youngsters nowadays are also quick to form opinions and project their perspectives on the internet. But most of the time uneducated opinions could turn out to be harmful. It is advised that when accompanied by legitimate facts and evidence. Youngsters should focus on forming constructive opinions and critiques of the present social scenario and researching for solutions so that they can direct their energy in the right direction.
Conclusion
According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 170 years to reach complete equality in terms of gender globally and India ranks 140 among 156 countries in UNDP’s Gender Equality Index. Therefore, we can estimate that gender equality is still generations away from establishing itself in India. In the discussion with Diya Kapur Misra, she incessantly brings to everyone’s notice that times are changing in terms of the mainstreaming of gender equality narrative in corporations yet the actions taken are not enough to bring such a radical shift. Creating a gender-equitable environment and putting women & other underrepresented groups first is the best way forward. To help women excel and grow in their respective fields just like their male counterparts, it is important to start building the necessary support infrastructure and compensate for the inequality that had forced them into the shadows for ages.
– By Mishthi Sharma, Vongle @ Orion Square
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