OUGD601: Dissertation Research

The three things holding women back at work

Recently, I looked at this Guardian article on 'the three things holding women back at work' 

1. Unhelpful Stereotypes - Female board members also remain tied to the expectations of stereotypically feminine traits. A recent government study revealed women are more likely to be referred to as “bitchy”, “emotional” and “bossy” than their male colleagues.
2. Unconscious Bias - Female candidates tend to be judged on experience, whereas male candidates are assessed on potential, and that interviewers are more likely to question women than men on their ability to balance work and family life.
3. Lack of Role Models - High profile role models are important in helping women reach board level.  

My Thoughts 

I seem to have a lot of articles on the gender pay gap, and the lack of female representation in the boardroom. However, none have admitted that the biggest obstacle (in my opinion) to progress is the simple fact that women ( who up to the age of 30 tend to outearn their male counterparts ) then see their career take a back seat as they take time off to have, and then care for, their children.

I think we really want to see equal salaries in the workplace and equal representation in the boardroom we'd insist on compulsory shared parental leave. The men to take as much time off as the women to look after the children, and there would be nothing as much holding the women back