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This is a historic election for women. Vice President #KamalaHarris is at the top of the ticket – a barrier-breaking candidate who could become the first Black woman and the first South Asian woman to be elected president. Since the launch of her campaign, she’s facing the kind of unfair and damaging pushback that women experience all too often - whether in corporate America or running for office. She’s been criticized for her laugh, called the “DEI candidate,” attacked for not having biological children, and even her racial identity has been questioned. All of these judgments are linked to deep-rooted biases and beliefs about women’s leadership and abilities. And all the ambitious women running for office up and down the ballot will have to contend with this, too. That’s why Lean In is launching #GetOutTheBias. In the lead-up to November, we will highlight examples of the biases that women encounter when they run for elected office and ways to challenge it. Learn more at leanin.org/elections

Today is #WomensEqualityDay, which commemorates the ratification of the #19thamendment. While the 19th amendment gave some women the right to vote, it’s crucial to highlight that not all women were granted the same privilege. This illustration from Pepita Sandwich acknowledges that 104 years later we still have so much work to do to ensure women and girls around the world are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

If you are a man in a position of power or simply looking to be a good ally to the women in your organization, the onus is on you to speak up and call out bias when you see it. ⁠ ⁠ For #protips to challenge bias, check out our #50ways to #FightBias program here: https://bit.ly/2Itc1Ni ⁠ #LIregram by ohdionne.

What would we do without the women in our lives who encourage us to be the best versions of ourselves?⁠ ⁠ In the comments, tag the first woman you thought of when you saw this post.⁠ ⁠ Looking to grow your community of “magical” women? Head to the link in bio to start a Lean In Circle and feel more empowered and supported.⁠ ⁠ 🎨 Art by @abbierosie_

Let's talk about affinity bias. We tend to gravitate toward people like ourselves in appearance, beliefs, and background. And we may avoid or even dislike people who are different from us. This can show up in hiring processes when white men in positions of power rule out a woman of color for not being a “culture fit.” If you encounter this unconscious bias from a colleague, ask them to be more specific when someone rules out a candidate because of fit. If their thinking boils down to “she’s different,” point out that different can be good. Propose that you look for someone who adds to the team dynamic—a “culture add”—instead of someone who simply fits into it.

#TakeOnBiasThursday reminder: Girls tend to fear failure more than boys do, in part because of the messages they get from adults. Adults tend to hold girls to higher standards than boys and may, therefore, criticize girls more often when they fall short, meaning that girls may be more likely to blame themselves when they make mistakes. This school year, let's make it a priority to positively impact how girls see themselves and their possibilities. Here’s how. 👉 https://bit.ly/3YUgZck

As of June 2024, only 52 of the Fortune 500 companies are run by women and there are only 27 countries where 28 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government (Source: UN Women). This #WomenLeadersWednesday, we’re taking the stand that the world is missing out on better leadership with the lack of women in charge. After all, according to our #WomenInTheWorkplace report, compared to men at their level, women leaders are stronger people managers and do more to support employee well-being and promote DEI—work that improves retention and employee satisfaction. Why do you think the world would be a better place with more women leaders? We want to hear in the comments.

Our #WomenInTheWorkplace report found women who work remotely at least some of the time, experience fewer microaggressions and higher levels of psychological safety. The decrease in microaggressions is especially pronounced for women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities—groups who typically face more demeaning and othering behavior.⁠ ⁠ Most employees prefer working remotely at least some of the time. HR leaders say that offering flexible work options has helped diversify their talent pipelines and retain more employees from underrepresented groups.⁠ ⁠ If you work remotely, in what ways has it been beneficial to you? We want to hear from you in the comments below.

“She doesn’t have enough experience.”  "She's too ambitious." “She’s too self-promotional.” How often have you heard these statements about women running for office? It’s no secret that this is a historic #election for women and girls. With the number of accomplished women running for various positions across the ballot, it’s important now more than ever to fight the deep-rooted gender bias these women will face. You may hear your friends, coworkers, colleagues, and family members question their qualifications, criticize how they look and speak, and dislike them for speaking up and asserting themselves. And it will be even more difficult for women of color – including for Vice President #KamalaHarris, who will be up against both #sexism and #racism. Use these #protips to respond to biased comments this election season and check your own snap judgments. Tag a friend and remind them that together, we can #GetOutTheBias.

In this clip from #MelindaFrenchGates conversation with former First Lady #MichelleObama, Michelle shares how she intentionally raised her daughters to embrace failure, take positive risks, and learn from their mistakes. Because girls are often socialized to care more about what people think than boys are, they tend to take fewer risks because they're worried about failing—but risk taking is good for girls. It helps build skills, boosts confidence, increases independence, and strengthens their decision-making abilities. Learn what you can do to help girls get comfortable with taking risks at LeanInGirls.Org.