As a career woman, you may be tired of hearing "We are an equal opportunity employer". In reality, this is rarely the case. While those companies truly believe they are following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they may be unwittingly violating the very laws they pride themselves on observing. If you are frustrated at your attempts at promotion after promotion, only losing out to a male co-worker, here is some of what you should understand if you are to make a difference.
Conversely, if you are an administrator or on the Board of your company, take the time to look at how gender bias might just be hiding in the shadows on a subconscious level.
Gender Bias Doesn't Always Operate on a Conscious Level
Most often, biases are shaped in the way we have been brought up in society. Schools, families, religious affiliations, and even ethnic groups shape our beliefs and attitudes. While we may think we are being open to the possibilities in others, the things that shaped our lives during our formative years can be hard to overcome. If you find that women in your place of business are feeling discriminated against, do a bit of introspection. Perhaps you are playing into those discriminatory practices on a subconscious level.
As a woman, are you being overly abrasive in an attempt to be seen as equal to male counterparts? You may be trying to be a driving force but giving it too much gas! As an administrator, are you somehow seeing women as caregivers instead of professionals? Sometimes, on a subconscious level, men compare women seeking promotions with their mothers or wives who stayed at home. The way we grew up envisioning the role of women will be a huge factor when trying to rid ourselves of unwanted biases. Even women have these biases, so take a good look at your own!
Advice for Women Seeking to Advance
Once you've done a bit of introspection, it's time to look at how you can advance without overdoing your efforts. Consider for a moment the still predominant bias in terms of math and science. Men are still thought to excel in those disciplines. And if you look at any graduating class of those seeking advanced level degrees in engineering, for example, you will find the ratio of men to women at something like 10:1. Is it because women can't do the work? Or is it because they have been programmed to believe they aren't right for that industry?
What you can do when presenting your bid for advancement is to take advantage of the technology at your disposal. Instead of simply submitting the required application, resumé, and cover letter all over again, why not put together a combination hardcopy/video presentation? Use strategic elements such as a whiteboard video to demonstrate both what you have to offer and how you are comfortable in today's hi-tech corporate environment.
Sometimes it takes showing them what you can offer as opposed to telling them. It's hard to deny what's right in front of their eyes. Use every tool at your disposal to show them what you've got. It's not what you have to offer but how you demonstrate it that counts. Don't preach - practice!
