EDITORIAL: Everyday approaches to advance gender equality
To say women have made strides in regard to equality in the United States would be an understatement. As a country, America has made momentous strides in gender equality to such a degree, that mothers and daughters of immigrants and indigenous peoples would not recognize the opportunities and achievements women have access to today.
Because of the 19th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, women can vote in local, state and federal elections. Women have autonomy over family planning through the Roe v. Wade decision. Because of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, women can open lines of credit like loans, mortgages and credit cards without a husband or father’s approval. Women in federal prisons makeup 13% of the total number of incarcerated women and have access to feminine hygiene products free of charge thanks to the FIRST STEP Act being ratified in 2018.
However, there is still a long way to go before all women are seen as equal in the eyes of the law and society. One does not have to be an activist or lawmaker to make the world a better place for everyone. Tackling overt and subconscious sexism must be combated rigorously to get there. More must be done to better represent, listen to and respect women.
Being represented
Women need to be present in every facet of the workforce. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 entrusts that there are no jobs in the U.S., outside of the clergy, can specifically exclude women. Although society may be beyond that point, there are still jobs where percentages of female employees are in the single digits or only have women working in support staff jobs like custodial or secretarial. Those positions are valuable and necessary, but should not be considered the default when hiring women.
Having a seat at the proverbial table is just a starting point. Women need the opportunity to be in leadership positions. When it comes to a company’s health, having more women in executive positions and overall diversity at that higher level has shown to lead to better profit margins, less discrimination and more innovation.
Having a female presence at the table does not mean she will be heard or viewed as equal. Sometimes women will not speak up for fear of being labeled “emotional,” “brash,” “shrill,” “bossy” or “bitchy.” Sometimes, women are made to feel, by social conditioning or by being told outright, they should be grateful for even having the opportunity to hold a position or role.
The upcoming 2020 presidential election already shows how a candidate’s gender means the difference in being analyzed based on temperament and strength verse policy and experience. All six women currently running on a major party ticket have been pegged at some point as “unlikeable” by many media outlets.
This is not the first time this type of coverage has happened. Secretary Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, in both 2008 and 2016, and to Cara Fiorina, Republican presidential candidate, in 2016 faced the same type of coverage.
If there are no more seats available, then add more chairs.
Being listened to
Though men have been allies in the fight for equality, this is not enough. Intentionally or not, men often find themselves belittling, gaslighting or silencing women. There needs to be room required for women to express themselves at every stage in a woman’s life.
Not being listened to can be the difference between life or death. In medical care, gender bias studies across the board have shown discrepancies in how seriously a woman’s pain is perceived. When experiencing pain in an emergency department, women are less likely to receive medication and wait longer compared to men. Women, sometimes, bring male relatives to doctor visits just so their health conditions will be taken seriously.
The ignorance and condescending treatment of women is why some do not come forward about things like abuse, assault, rape, etc. The #MeToo movement in Hollywood, politics and our communities made this glaringly clear.
Women know they are not being heard and a culture of shame is why rape is the most under-reported crime and why 63% of sexual assaults are never reported. With statistics showing 1 out of every 5 women will be raped in her life, it is easy to think of this as a confined moment instead of the effect of a culture of undervaluing women.
When talking with anyone, make sure to actively listen. “Hearing” alone does not suffice.
Being respected
Gender equality and tackling sexism all comes down to respect. To ensure respect, one must consider how they approach and interact with women.
As the saying goes, “Treat people the way you would want to be treated,” but remember everyone has different life experiences, personalities and wants so adjust. Some women experience sexism in addition to racism, able-bodiedness discrimination, homophobia and/or transphobia. This takes practice. Most people interact with women on a daily basis already, so take the most recent encounters and reflect on how it as if it were with a man.
A simple thing one can do is self reflect by asking questions like, “Would I have said or done that if that if she were a guy?,” “Did I understand what she said and meant?” or “Did she feel heard?”
Alongside the self-reflection of making sure women are represented, heard and respect, take the time to learn about the issues women face to better combat sexism and promote gender equality. Do not rely on women to take the time to educate someone on their experiences with sexism. Women already have enough on their plate without educating others about their struggles.
