Breaking Gender Bias: Moving Toward True Equality in the Workplace

Gender diversity and inclusion are now embedded in all major corporate policies and guidelines. However, it saddens me that we even need such measures to ensure equal opportunity. As an HR Business Partner, I conduct many sensitivity training sessions, including on gender equality. What disheartens me most is overhearing conversations suggesting that a woman’s promotion or success is solely due to Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) guidelines rather than her merit and hard work. Let this be a reminder: D&I guidelines don't call for blind promotions of women; rather, they encourage leaders to look beyond gender and recognize talent fairly.

Who decides which roles are meant for which gender? This notion is so deeply ingrained in our collective mindset that certain jobs instantly evoke the image of a particular gender—think of a taxi driver, a front desk receptionist, or a nurse. But if we truly examine this, is there any specific skill set that inherently limits a person of any gender from excelling in these roles?

This bias has far-reaching impacts on businesses. By focusing on one gender for certain positions, we automatically exclude around 50% of the talent pool—potentially overlooking the best candidate for the job. While this bias may not always be a conscious choice, it often leads to decisions that aren't entirely fair.

This is where corporate D&I policies play a crucial role, ensuring equal opportunity without promoting someone based solely on gender. These policies empower us to reward merit, challenging outdated assumptions like the idea that a woman can't handle a role involving travel because she has to balance work and life more than a man. I always wonder how being born into a particular gender taught a woman to cook for her family daily, while a man is not expected to do the same.

Yes, caring for a child is often seen as the mother's responsibility, but why shouldn't it be the father's as well? If a working father can manage both roles effectively, why do we question a working mother's ability to do the same? Maternity leave is a medical necessity for mothers, but it shouldn’t disqualify them from taking on their dream projects.

It’s promising to see corporations recognizing this by introducing more benefits for working fathers, but there is still a long way to go. True progress will come when equal opportunity happens naturally, without needing constant reminders from policies. That will be the moment of real change.

Gender, defined by our physical differences as per biology, does not inherently qualify or disqualify anyone from performing a particular job. It's time to move beyond these biases and create a truly inclusive workforce.

#makesafeworkplace #Genderneutralworkenvironment #unconsciousbias