working to promote organisations, women, and men who are reshaping the rules to promote female empowerment.
We want to level the playing field between men and women, not because equality is the end goal, but because it is the starting point for creating a space of genuine value, worthiness and respect in society.
We are entering a new age of female empowerment. During the first phase we were given access to the engine room. But when we got there, we discovered that the machinery was set up for men. The skills women brought to the table were undermined. Women were told that compassion, emotional intelligence and listening were 'soft skills.' While decisiveness and emotionless rationality were 'hard skills.' And the working environment was set up in a way to force women to make a choice between career or family. It was like being told that we could finally get in the driving seat, but the race car has been set up for a man's body. The seat, the steering wheel, the gears: they are all in the wrong place. Representation is not enough. Recent campaigns such as Gender Pay Gap and #MeToo have shown us that the rules are still written by men for men.
Men and women are not the same. We don't want them to be. There are dividends in difference. We call for less ascribing and more listening, less judging and more believing.
Empower believes equality is not about having an equal number of men and women sat at a table. It is about giving equal weight to the strengths that both men and women bring to the world.
Former Home Secretary and Chair of Empower
Jacqui Smith
"Often when we talk about empowerment, we're referring to a simple 50/50 split in opportunities between men and women. But the reality is, that, for the most part, women and men are still very unequal, especially in terms of representation. Also in terms of the roles that they are able to play and the way in which the business recognises their needs and contributions as leaders; as staff and as customers."
Behind the story Podcast
Empower is joined by WealthiHer Network Co-Founder Tamara Gillan and The Baroness Burt of Solihull to discuss levelling the playing field to ensure women thrive in business.
For more episodes click here.
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