Global Women's Leadership Network - Pink Paper

WHAT WOMEN CAN DO TO CONFRONT EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT BIAS #1: Examine unconscious assumptions about leadership and gender GWLN members told us that through examining our own unconscious biases about gender and leadership, we can begin to rewrite old social and cultural scripts. Assumptions about leadership and gender are formed early in childhood, when young people receive messages about their expectations, capabilities, and roles. GWLN members advocate that as women grow, we seize opportunities to challenge ingrained ideas about leadership and gender, including the false belief that men are more “natural” leaders than women. #2: Advocate for yourself, and advocate for other women GWLN members report that having an advocate is vital to women’s advancement and success in leadership. However, respondents encouraged women to first examine how their own self-confidence and self-esteem may get in the way of advocating for themselves (see below). GWLN members suggest that women need to advocate for themselves first, then advocate for others. Advocates are essential to changing broader social and cultural perceptions about leadership and gender. When people advocate on behalf of women leaders, it reduces the power of old scripts that undermine women’s leadership. GWLN members suggest that each of us has the power to do this by making a personal commitment to become an advocate for women’s leadership. Numerous GWLN members cited the importance of men’s advocacy on behalf of women. GWLN members state that men who advocate on behalf of women wear away old assumptions about leadership and gender and reinforce women’s acceptance as leaders. 14 | 2021 GWLN Pink Paper SPEAK UP FOR WOMEN CHALLENGE Setting a goal for women’s advocacy can create intention and increase success. How many people can you advocate for in the next twelve months, including yourself? “[We] as a society disproportionately separate men and boys and do not always amplify and lift up women and girls.” “I think engaging men is the new frontier in advancing this agenda because they hold the power.” Many cited the importance of having men leaders who advocated for them in their careers. As one woman shared, “For me, I had a champion and an advocate, somebody who cared about my well-being. He was a white male.” “I had a couple of really great bosses who were gender blind, and I think that helped. One was one of those guys who just wanted to lift me up.”