Gender equality – ideas to generate innovation and commitment
On July 20 2016, DFP and the Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability Research Unit (GLASS) at Monash University, conducted a forum on progressing gender equality in the workplace. The forum was set up to generate innovation and commitment to building gender equality in the workplace beyond ‘flexible work options’ such as working from home or varied start and finish times, that are now common place and have not delivered the necessary equilibrium. The forum featured a few equality pioneers and innovators to answer the important question –
If you could do just one thing to create gender equal outcomes in the workplace, what would you do that has not been done before?
The achievement of authentic gender equality requires a shift in the contemporary paradigms of thinking around work and also care giving. It demands the reinvention of what we consider work to be, what it looks like, how we organise, measure and reward it. Above all, it must be founded on the principle of diversity that is so often quoted as part of the Corporate Sustainability strategy of many organisations but remains in practice, elusive.
Below are some of the daring ideas pitched by our panel of experts at the DFP forum on how to generate innovation and commitment to gender equality.
Highlights from DFP Forum on Gender Equality
Panel facilitator Samone McCurdy speaks about the current state of gender equality and the need for change to achieve authentic gender equality.
Ideas for generating change
Interrogate assumptions about gender . Question EVERYTHING!
Allow both mothers and fathers the right to use leave in an innovative manner so that they can share care taker roles.
Build financial literacy in women starting at a young age to assist making informed choices on work and care.
Use job share for more than helping working mums – transition to retirement, succession planning and leadership and mentoring.
What ideas or strategies has your organisation implemented to help achieve true gender equality? Leave your comments and let us know.
