Today is International Women’s Day, and the theme is #AccelerateAction.
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement.
At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
Jade Reid, Personal Assistant, and Geraldine Pagel, Building Compliance Support & Engagement Officer, spoke to Chief Executive, Anne Waterhouse, about what International Women’s Day means to her.
Jade: Hi, Anne. Thank you for talking to us today about International Women’s Day and what it means to you. Let’s get started. What would you tell your younger self?
Anne: Hi Jade, great question! I would tell my younger self that you don’t have to have all the answers. I think we set ourselves up, particularly as females, when we enter the workplace, to think we need to be experts in everything to do a role.
I would tell my younger self to use the expertise around you. Everyone brings something different to the table, and you don’t need to have the answers to everything. Learn from people, be open and honest, and do not be afraid to say I don’t know that.
Geraldine: What and who do you find inspirational, and how have they inspired you?
Anne: Well, firstly, my mum. She was very fortunate to go to university and study computer technology. When she left, she got married and had children. Because childcare didn’t exist then, she left work to bring me and my siblings up. Once we reached senior school, she decided to retrain as an account assistant at night school. To be able to afford this, she worked in a clock factory.
My mum taught me that you are in control of your destiny and that perseverance is key. It won’t always be easy, but she impresses me. I also love music and look up to women like Grace Jones and early Madonna, who were not scared to be different.
Jade: Did you experience any setbacks in your family after starting a family?
Anne: I was fortunate enough to be in a senior role at the time I had my first child, and I felt brave to have conversations about what would work for me after my maternity leave.
My manager at the time judged your productivity by how many hours you put in and was resistant to my request to return four days a week. Luckily, I had allies at work who supported my decision.
I am a big advocate of enabling people to work in a way that makes them the most productive and recognising that work isn’t everything. Also, we can’t just find solutions for parents, many people have other caring responsibilities that need to be understood and respected.
Geraldine: This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #AccelerateAction. What do you think Wandle can do to support female colleagues?
Anne: I see so much achieved when you bring a diverse group of people together and ask if we have the right voices to resolve this issue. Also, by creating safe spaces for women to come forward and use their voices, you create more successful organisations.
When I started my career, there was a feeling that the women in high-up positions had fought hard for their success, and they drew the ladder up behind them. Whereas now, I think we are much more supportive and encouraging of one another to achieve.
Jade: Would you say your gender has ever held you back in your career?
Anne: I wouldn’t say it held me back, but it has played a factor. When I began my career in house building, it was a very male-dominated environment. I rose quickly to be finance director by the time I turned 30, and it was a lonely place to be. I felt I had to be two different people and to be seen as very serious to keep my seat at the table. I learned more about construction than I ever needed to because I wanted to be seen for my skills and expertise.
Geraldine: Final question, what biases do you think women still face?
Anne: I believe a lot has changed, and women are not being doubted as much if they want to pursue certain career paths. There are job roles that are desperately needed, such as plumbing, but women are not entering these professions, and we do have to ask why. In general, women are more emotionally literate for several reasons, and I think that is a positive and can be brought into the workforce to encourage an open and honest working environment that benefits everyone.
Thank you to Jade, Geraldine, and Anne for taking the time to chat.
We will be sharing information throughout the week to support International Women’s Day.