ELKALYNE is a woman-owned/operated and minority-owned boutique talent acquisition agency that specializes in placing diverse IT, Product, and Marketing resources within companies large and small across the United States.
Looking Back
Every March, the residents of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia focus their attention on Women’s History month. It’s a time to take special notice of the gender inequalities that still exist in our societies, as well as celebrate the progress that has been made and the people who have championed these efforts.
Connecting the Dots
As individuals in these countries, it can feel intimidating to connect the dots between our limited abilities and the immensity of the issues. For 31 days each year, it’s easy to feel concern, compassion, enthusiasm, motivation, but over the course of those 31 days, you may realize you’re not sure what to do with those feelings. As a single person, I am incapable of closing the gender pay gap or enacting mandatory paid parental leave.
Now that we’ve moved into April and the stories and statistics are seeping out of your Linkedin timelines, what do we do with the concern, compassion, enthusiasm, and motivation that flowed through us in March? The purpose of this article is to suggest small, realistic ways to channel our convictions.
These suggestions aren’t just for men or women, as gender inequality can affect people of all genders. The ideas will also attempt to be inclusive of varying capacities and levels of influence. The right next step for you isn’t going to be the right next step for somebody else. Gender inequality affects us all, and our participation in the movement toward justice requires nuance, reflection, and honesty.
Learn: Gather information, educate yourself, and seek to understand.
Perhaps this past March was the first one you knew as Women’s History Month, and you are still processing the reality of gender inequality. When you saw the post about how women, on average, make $0.82 for every $1.00 men make (even lower for women of color), perhaps you met it with shock or skepticism. It takes time and energy to make sense of information like this. Rather than becoming overwhelmed, try taking it one step at a time. If a colleague is sharing their experience, listen with an open mind. If you’re eager to understand more, read a book or listen to a podcast. Here are some recommendations to help you get started:
- Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Labor of Love, Labor of Sorrow: Black Women, Work, and the Family, from Slavery to the Present by Jacqueline Jones
- Out to Work: A History of Wage-Earning Women in the United States by Alice Kessler-Harris
- Women at Work, a Harvard Business Review Podcast
Grow: Acknowledge your mistakes, set a goal, apologize.
Because our culture is steeped in inequality, none of us are immune from making the wrong choice or saying the wrong thing at times. But accountability – not shame – is the wisest way forward. Do you recall a time when you interrupted a colleague? It’s never too late to apologize. Do you have a tendency to think your ideas are the best ones in every meeting? Challenge yourself to listen to other ideasbefore sharing your own.
Conversely, maybe the stories you heard during Women’s History Month made you realize that you’re selling yourself short. Is it time to ask for that promotion, or apply for a job where you don’t meet 100% of the job requirements? Consider using these resources for support:
- How To Ask For A Raise: Get Paid What You Deserve, a Clever Girl Finance blog by Dorianne St. Fleur
- How To Define and Communicate Your Value in An Interview (And Words You Should Never Use), a Linkedin blog by Debbie Millman
Act: Donate, volunteer, make a change in your organization.
None of us alone can change the world, but each of us can be present in our homes, families, workplaces, and communities. Do you have time, finances, or skills that could be of service to an organization working against injustices? If you’re not sure where to begin, try volunteermatch.comto explore various volunteering opportunities that align with your skills, passions, and availability.
There are also particular ways we can influence our workplaces. Is there someone on your team who is often interrupted or overlooked in meetings? Create space for their voice and support them as they seek to grow in their role. What perspectives are missing from your team? Consider utilizing the expertise of specialized talent acquisition professionals. ELKALYNEis just one of many talent acquisition firms that can bring balance to your team by providing relevant, diverse resources. Are you in a position to address your company’s benefits and hiring practices? Consider the improvements to your company’s culture and demographics if you instituted flexible work policies, paid parental leave, or stopped the practice of dismissing potential candidates with caregiving gaps on their resumes.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
From Rumi to Ghandi, poets and authors across time and cultures have encouraged the poignant philosophy of changing the world by first changing ourselves. While it may be frustrating to accept that each of us is limited to a relatively small sphere of influence, it is encouraging to know that we can influence ourselves and, by doing so, maybe by next March the world will be a better place.
For support attracting diverse talent or consultation on other business practices, connect with ELKALYNE.