Gender equality refers to the recognition that people of all genders should be treated equally and have the same rights and opportunities. Although gender equality is highly important and provides a baseline of what all organizations and institutions must work towards, offering all genders the same resources and opportunities can often fail to bridge systemic gaps that have historically led some groups to be disproportionately held back.
Gender equity takes a more detailed and sophisticated process, recognizing and addressing the structural and societal barriers that prevent individuals from achieving their full potential based on their gender. As such, gender equity requires acknowledgement of the ways in which gender intersects with other identities and social factors such as race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities.
Achieving true gender equity in the workplace is a complex and ongoing process that requires a commitment from all levels of an organization. Here are some steps that a company can take to move towards gender equity:
Conduct a gender equity audit
When considering gender equity, it’s important to understand the different identities that exist within the workforce, including the intersectional identities, so that the experience of different employees can be compared to uncover truths and understand areas that require improvement.
This requires sensitive diversity & inclusion data and it is often most effective to handle this with a third party provider so that individuals can remain anonymous and have a safe space to share their real experiences, challenges, and feelings.
Companies should conduct an audit of their current policies, practices, and culture to identify areas where gender inequities exist. This audit should be conducted regularly to track progress.
Establish clear goals and metrics
It’s often helpful to set clear goals and metrics for gender equity, such as the percentage of women, Trans people, and Non-binary people, in leadership positions or the gender pay gap. These goals should be communicated to all employees, and progress towards these goals should be regularly tracked and reported.
Create a diverse and inclusive culture
To address systemic biases and inequalities, it’s crucial to create a culture that values diversity and inclusion. This includes actively recruiting and promoting diverse groups, creating a safe and respectful workplace, and providing equal opportunities for all employees. Creating an inclusive culture involves various components and continuous learning, join our newsletter to stay up to date on our helpful resources!
Offer flexible work arrangements
Companies should offer flexible working arrangements, such as remote or hybrid working and flexible scheduling, to accommodate the needs of all employees, particularly working parents. As families can look different in each household, including varying genders, it’s important that all employees are able to balance work commitments and family commitments. Diverse families can experience systemic barriers on a larger scale, with pay gaps and gender roles bringing added pressure, so truly equitable workplaces will acknowledge this and offer flexibility.
Provide training and development opportunities
To progress towards true gender equity in the workplace, organizations can offer targeted policies and initiatives to address barriers and level out the playing field. An example of this is to provide training and development opportunities for women, Trans people, and non-binary people, to help them advance in their careers and overcome barriers to advancement. This includes leadership training, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities.
Additionally, providing training to all employees including leadership can help to educate the workforce about unconscious bias and gender inequalities, helping to embed a more inclusive culture.
Want to learn more about how Diversio’s award winning DEI platform and training packages can support you to achieve gender equity in the workplace? Get in touch today!
Diversio is the people intelligence platform that measures, tracks, and improves Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
By connecting artificial intelligence (AI) technology, sophisticated data analytics, and knowledgeable subject matter experts, Diversio is able to accurately diagnose your pain points, benchmark you against peers, and create a robust action plan that will meet your DEI goals. Through the unique combination of technology and human expertise, Diversio is driving meaningful impact for hundreds of organizations across over 35 countries globally.
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For more information on Diversio, or how we can help you start your DEI program contact us at info@diversio.com
