RED VELVET’s Post

Let’s talk about something that matters: gender equality. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. When we empower women, we’re not merely checking a box—we’re unlocking potential, creativity, and resilience.🚀 Let’s weave equality into our everyday lives. By challenging stereotypes and celebrating diversity, we can create a world where everyone thrives. Bridging the gender gap isn’t just about fairness; it’s about building a better future for all.🌍🤝💫 If you are wondering what are the practical steps to make the workplace a more equitable environment for women. Check out this latest article for insights. #GenderEquality #Empowerment #TogetherWeRise

International Women's Day - Less pomp and more action needed. On "International Women's day"(IWD) I find myself wondering if having a designated day for women ultimately defeats its purpose. Looking at both sides of the argument - Against IWD - as you have to weigh in the negatives first :) Tokenism: We can argue that dedicating a single day to women's issues can be perceived as superficial and tokenistic. Focusing efforts on one day might give the illusion of progress while systemic inequality persists year-round. Commercialization: Brands and companies use it as a marketing ploy rather than genuinely promoting gender equality.  Isolation: Singling out one day raises concerns about whether the focus on women's issues overshadows the need for diverse approaches that should address the compounded inequalities that women from all groups face. FOR IWD Global visibility for gender equality: This day does shine a spotlight to crucial issues like gender-based violence, the wage gap, and the overwhelming underrepresentation of women in leadership. It provides a platform to raise awareness and drive conversations that may not otherwise happen. Celebration and recognition: This also celebrates women's achievements, promotes inspirational role models, and helps counter harmful stereotypes about women's abilities and limitations. Acts as a Reminder : The day serves as a reminder of the importance of gender equality and can motivate individuals, communities, and organizations to take tangible actions toward knocking down systemic inequality. It's important to acknowledge the potential pitfalls of designating a single day but also to recognize the value IWD brings. It can act as a starting point for year-round activism, advocacy, and implementation of policies addressing gender inequality. The emphasis on IWD should shift to highlighting tangible actions and commitments, rather than just symbolic gestures. In other words - less pomp and more action. Ultimately, the effectiveness of International Women's Day depends on how it's utilized. It's a useful tool for raising awareness and celebrating progress, but the real work in achieving gender equality must happen every single day of the year. #happywomensday #internationalwomensday

🔷 Are you optimistic about the future of equality this International Women’s Day? 🤔Why? Because it’s crucial for making tangible progress in workplace gender equity. 😆I’m thrilled to share more with you in my latest piece for Forbes Australia, and explain why optimism is esential for progress towards a more gender equal future, and how we can go from wondering 'what now?' to saying clearly 'here's what's next'. Because… 🔋Optimism fuels our drive to challenge and change the status quo, pushing us to break down systemic barriers and value everyone's contributions equally. But in the face of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency data and what some may see as tokenistic support for women around International Women’s Day that doesn't truly move the needle, it's easy to lose hope. In the piece I explore: 🔶why people might be feeling hopeless right now 🔶the need to break down gender stereotypes that hold back all genders 🔶examples of how some companies and industries are making progress we can all learn from 🙏Thank you to Samuel Hussey for sharing my words. ❤️I hope they might inspire you and your people to keep counting her in, investing in women and accelerating progress on International Women's Day and every day. https://lnkd.in/e_Bd8Wc4 #internationalwomensday2024 #diversityequityandinclusion #gendercode #genderpaygap

The Deloitte report reveals that global gender equality for CEOs may not be reached until 2111, with women holding only 6% of CEO roles today. Leaders must take accountability, improve succession planning, and focus on equitable outcomes. With generative AI transforming industries, it’s crucial to include women in tech to avoid widening inequalities. How can leaders make sure women succeed in the AI-driven future? For more details, go to: https://lnkd.in/gt_H2_KC. #leadership #gender #equity

As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly this month to assess global progress, it's clear that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is only possible if we close the gender gap. From eradicating poverty to ensuring sustainable energy, gender parity is not just a goal in itself—SDG 5—but a catalyst for achieving all 17 SDGs. Yet, even in countries that are in the top quartile of gender equality in the workplace like the United States, women still face significant barriers in pay equity, leadership, and workforce participation. In a new Forbes column, MGI director Kweilin Ellingrud shares insights from a new McKinsey & Company and https://mck.co/3XPCwBK report, Women in the Workplace: https://mck.co/3TBtO7Y

For those thinking gender inequality isn't that prominent, the stats don't lie! Underrepresented or marginalised groups face disadvantages that those with privilege may not be aware of or have even considered. The existence of privilege is clear for those who don’t have it, and often invisible to those who do. It’s important to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable and educate ourselves. You can’t control the amount of privilege you have but you do have some control over how you use your privilege to demonstrate allyship. #IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #InvestInWomen

'Beyond Observing Women's Day' Observing or celebrating a day for any specific cause is undoubtedly an important activity – as a gestural contribution for those who believe in the cause, and as a procedural step for those who plan to attempt a substantial move towards achieving goals. March 8 is observed annually as International Women’ day (IWD) across the globe to support gender equality and to foster women empowerment. Campaign theme for Women’s day 2024 is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, and we may remember that 2023 campaign theme was ‘EmbraceEquity’, but how many us can recall the campaigning titles/focus for previous years!! It can be argued that it is not really required to remember the theme, as it is the essence and the evolution of the progress which matters. It is the integral effect of the decades long efforts which make a difference. Agreed! But, the concern is different. Inspite of pondering upon the real issues, digging out the gaps, finding the solutions, making collective commitments and then actually following up – the movement is diverted manifolds. For the business community, the month of March is considered as an opportunity to sell jewellery, pink clothes, food and makeup etc. For many organizations, the celebrations are just confined to the making of the lists of speakers, and to advertise their firms by showcasing their respect for women employees, and many others just celebrate it and follow the trend. It is least bothered if their own employees – men or women – are supporting the idea or not! Year after year, a day or a month is observed under a united theme, series of events are organized, pledges are taken and policies are made. Sadly, not much is really remembered next day. Similar speeches and policies are repeated every year, and what seems missing at places is deep analysis and a follow-up plan. How much difficult it is to design a measure to gauge the effect or improvement towards goal of gender equality? How to analyse if such women oriented events are just helping for the dignity of women or are these silently contributing in further increasing the gender bias? In all, such inclusive team work is encouraging and promising – but it would be much more effective and significant - if some some attention is paid towards these noticeable gaps. #womenatwork #womanempowerment #inspireinclusion

While INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (MARCH 8) celebrates how far women’s rights and gender equality have come, it’s also important to recognise what still needs to be done. Did you know that 60% of chronically hungry people are women and girls, deprived of basic nourishment and food security? Women also bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid work, shouldering 60% more domestic responsibilities than men. This inequity not only limits economic opportunities but also perpetuates gender disparities. In the corporate world, the glass ceiling remains firmly intact. Shockingly, only 10% of FTSE 100 CEOs are women, highlighting the persistent barriers to women's advancement in leadership roles. The tech industry, often heralded as a driver of innovation, falls short on gender diversity. With just 29% of UK tech employees being women or non-binary individuals, it's clear that more must be done to create inclusive workplaces. As we celebrate the achievements of women today, let's also recommit to breaking down systemic barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating a world where every woman has equal opportunities to thrive. Gender equality isn't just a women's issue—it's a human rights issue. #IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #InvestInWomen

Today marks the 113th International Women's Day, it's a poignant moment to pause and reflect on the journey towards gender equality. This day has been happening for over a century, yet the stark realities of gender disparity persist. In the UK, the gender pay gap continues to be a glaring issue, with recent statistics showing that women earn, on average, 14.3% less than their male counterparts, in the US it’s worse at 16% This wage gap not only reflects systemic inequalities but also undermines the economic security and well-being of countless women across industries. BCG recently published research called ‘Why women owned Start Ups are a better bet’ that showed that female founded businesses significantly outperformed male founded businesses. Yet 98% of VC funding goes to male owned businesses despite 1/3rd of businesses across the US and Europe being owned by women. The concerning trend of decreasing representation of women in CEO roles continues. Grant Thornton’s 2024 ‘Women in Business’ report has just been released and shows that the number of female CEO's fell to 19% from 28% last year. As I reflect on these sobering realities, it's impossible not to feel a sense of disappointment that International Women's Day is still needed after more than a century of advocacy and activism. While we've made strides, the journey towards true equality is far from over. Yet, in the face of these challenges, there is also cause for hope. International Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the collective strength and resilience of women everywhere and I’ve been reminded today of the incredible women I’m surrounded by. It’s also a call to action for all of us to redouble our efforts in dismantling the barriers that stand in the way of gender equality and to work towards a gender equal world. Let's strive for a future where every woman is afforded the same opportunities, recognition, and respect as her male counterparts and that really would be a day to celebrate! #IWD2024 #internationalwomensday2024

Why Asking Women To Lean In Undermines Gender Equality Efforts: "While leaning in may boost an individual's sense of agency, it can inadvertently shift the focus away from addressing the systemic barriers women face and, worse still, hold women solely accountable for fixing gender inequality at work... The lean in approach encourages organizational solutions focused on fixing women rather than fixing organizational policies, processes and cultures that devalue women and their contributions. Importantly, these messages also damage men's perceptions of women... If companies want to advance gender equity, they must examine their existing efforts to understand how many solutions focus on changing women rather than changing the organization's culture, systems, policies and processes." Thoughts??? We'd love to hear your experiences with "leaning in" – share in the comments if you're comfortable! . . . https://buff.ly/47kYos2 #LeanIn #WomenInLeadership #GenderEquality #WomenInConstruction #WomenInAEC #ConstructionIndustry