Ways To Support Women This Month
Written by Keely Krueger & Katie Johnson, WIN Staff
Every year when International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month comes around, we are reminded of the magnitude of historical biases, stereotypes, and inequalities women have shouldered. Each of these sexist inclinations put women in a box, making it difficult for us to climb the proverbial ladder. Over the years we’ve shattered so many glass ceilings our arms are sore.
The path to women’s equality has been long, starting in the late 1800s with women activists fighting for the right to vote and for equal pay. Then in the 1970s women rallied for inclusion and equality as they faced systemic and societal challenges. Today in 2022, women are still fighting for equal opportunity. We continue to push past stereotypes and biased obstacles for a world where equality exists and differences are celebrated.
We believe that the world would be a better place if more women supported each other. Biases from men have hindered women from progressing in the workplace, but our own biases against other women keep us from being successful. As Professor Joan Roughgarden explains, “...if our society is filled disproportionately with men in top positions, we are going to associate ‘male’ with ‘leader’, ‘success’, and ‘competence’ and ‘female’ with ‘home’, ‘children’, and ‘family’. This overrides any natural bias women might have towards their own kind.”
Biases have hindered women from progressing in the workplace. In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of working women in the United States have faced discrimination on the job due to their gender. These biases penalize women in different ways. One is the “Likeability Penalty”. Coined by Sheryl Sandberg, it reflects how women in business are penalized when exhibiting qualities usually attributed to their male counterparts. Another example is the “Motherhood Tax”, the presumption that if a woman becomes a mother or is expecting to become a mother, she will become less committed to her work. These perceived opinions cost women leadership opportunities and promotions. We are not evaluated the same as men and this can be seen in the perpetuated wage gap.
Knowing that biases exist isn’t enough. If real change is going to take place, we will need to take action to level the playing field. “Empowerment” is a buzzword and can be found scrawled on the walls of every social media platform and news article today. But what is true empowerment? What are some ways that we can support other women that are truly impactful for our future successes?
How Women Can Support Women
Empowerment starts with us. From building our own confidence to elevating the confidence of others around us, true empowerment is when we give ourselves permission to be more than what our limiting beliefs and biases perpetuate.
This month, try focusing on how you approach the following opportunities.
Actively Listen
The act of listening is a dying art. With so many things stealing our attention at any given time, it’s important to take the time to listen to what someone is saying. Active listening includes the art of letting her speak out her feelings and thoughts uninterrupted, but it also includes allowing her space to speak without judgment. Be sure to make eye contact. A way to check if you are actively listening is to see if you are preparing what you are going to say next. If you are already planning what to say, you are not really listening to what is being said. Instead, respond with a paraphrase or a question to what she said to you to see if you are understanding correctly. This is one way to offer continuous support to the women (and men!) around you.
Encourage Her Growth
One of the best ways you can support women is through encouragement. As women, we are constantly being judged by the world around us. From our looks to our age to the decisions we make about work and/or family. Dealing with the different forms of biases that perpetuate can be exhausting. If a woman comes to you with an idea that she is excited about, instead of diminishing the idea, encourage the advancement. Ask her how you can help. Growth is continuous. We should be offering reassurances to help build confidence in one another.
Celebrate the Successes
We’ve been brought up by society to believe that other women are competition. When one woman succeeds, often we feel more of a sense of jealousy rather than jubilation. In reality, one woman’s success is all of our successes. We each deserve to be celebrated when we accomplish something important to us, no matter how big or how small it may seem. Our accomplishments inspire and encourage other women to become better leaders - so remember to celebrate them.
Lift Up Other Women
One way to help other women climb the proverbial ladder is to lift others as we rise. This can be done through mentorship or sponsorship. Helping another woman with her career can change its trajectory. Mentoring is not about instructing but rather providing supportive advice and offering access to opportunities and resources that might not have been readily accessible. As a sponsor, you’re able to help other women at your organization by speaking up for them in meetings and advocating for their accomplishments even or especially when they are not in the room. A sponsor is someone who has power in an organization and will use it to help someone else. Men rise faster in the ranks at companies - and it’s usually through the help and support of others in the workplace. If women are to truly support one another, we’ll need to be more strategic about helping other women advance into leadership roles.
Build Connections
Finally, if we are to become a woman that supports other women, we will need to not only connect with other women but also connect women to other women. Start introducing the women in your life to each other. There is no need to hide friends away from one another. The more connected we are to one another, the better chance we have at succeeding. This fact is especially true for entrepreneurs. Research has also shown that women with a close inner circle of friends are more successful overall. Building a community is especially important for women - whether you have a community of mothers or ladies who code, connection is key.
If you’re looking to build new connections, we encourage you to check out one of our monthly networking events and attend our upcoming WIN Summit to expand your reach and meet women from all across the world.
Advocating for women does not need to be troublesome. In fact, it can be more difficult trying to shy away from being helpful and encouraging to others. We still have many glass ceilings to break through - and hammering away is a lot easier when you have support.
Ready to step into your most confident self?
To enhance your personal growth, talk with a WIN Coach who can help empower you to make greater changes in your life.
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