Season 1, Ep 12: Unconscious Bias, a Stick of Dynamite, and More As We Look Back on 2021
In this final Episode of 2021, Cathy and Deborah share their favorite tips for achieving parity, discuss the latest data on women in the workplace, and look forward to 2022 and blowing up the status quo.
You can read a transcript of this episode here.
Subscribe! Time-stamped show notes are below.
Most Positive Developments for Women in 2021
2:24 We are finally discussing unconscious bias, intersectionality challenges for women who identify as BIPOC, and burnout for women
Resources: How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Only Wonder Women Need Apply: Solutions for Working Moms; Unconscious Bias: Hidden Forces Undermining Women at Work
3:34 We are pivoting towards real changes because people are being real about their needs
Most Negative Impacts for Women in 2021
6:10 Most experts believe that it will now take 135 years (up from 100 years) to achieve gender parity due to COVID’s increased pressure on women
-and 1 in 3 women has considered leaving the workforce (up from 1 in 40 women considering leaving in 2020)
Resources: McKinsey's Women in the Workplace 2021; COVID19's Impact on Women's Employment by McKinsey; COVID widened the gender gap, CNBC
8:30 Millions of women have dropped from the workforce
-women are overrepresented in underpaid jobs and some of these jobs disappeared due to COVID
-burnout resulting from gender bias at work and at home
Resources: OxFam International and Women in Low-Wage Jobs are Underpaid and Overloaded, Atlantic Monthly and McKinsey's Women in the Workplace 2021
Did the Parity Prescription Hold Up During 2021?
9:40 The Parity Prescription is:
S - Stop Trying to Change Women
C - Create Diverse Teams
R - Recognize Unconscious Bias
I - Intentionally Include
P - Partner with Men as Allies
T - Talk about the Issues
Resources: How the Parity Prescription Can Work for You
10:20 The Parity Prescription doesn’t completely address the challenges of childcare
12:42 The Parity Prescription is backed by research and studies, is common sense, and aligns with basic societal expectations about how we treat each other
Most Important Elements of the Parity Prescription
15:16 Recognize Unconscious Bias
-need broader understanding to see and recognize bias, particular by straight white men who aren’t negatively impacted by gender bias
-most people want fairness but gender bias is not fair
Resources: How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women, Only Wonder Women Need Apply: Solutions for Working Moms; Unconscious Bias: Hidden Forces Undermining Women at Work
16:44 Stop Trying to Change Women
-teaching women to empower themselves isn’t enough
-we need more authenticity in the workplace and alliances with men
Resources: How to Fight Gender Inequality with our Parity Prescription, How to Discovery and FLEX Your Authenticity at Work
Season 1 Accomplishments
Rated #6 for podcasts focused on gender!
19:30 Covered many of the fundamentals
20:55 Framework offers real solutions
-Dr. Nithila Peter and Tracy J. Edmonds added tremendous value during Season 1
Surprises and Fave Moments
22:37 Thanks to these fabulous women
-Faith Blackwell - photography
-Kathleen Fennessy - logo and trademark
-Laura Scott - LLC
-Isabel Robertson - podcast editing
-Dr. Nithila Peter reviewed Season 1 scripts
-Allison Lin gave us a shout-out in Plastics News
-plus we heard from so many listeners
-and we’re grateful for the men who showed up
25:30 Explicit gender bias continues to be a problem and women often do not have a satisfactory way to deal with gender bias so they change jobs
27:40 There is too much pressure on women to keep quiet
-women are told “don’t play the victim”
29:21 People of all genders rate women higher than men on 19 of 21 core leadership competencies but women aren’t being promoted into leadership roles due to unconscious bias
Resources: 5 Steps to Achieve Increased Leadership by Women
32:25 Tremendous resources to help impact real change including
34:01 Fave podcasting moments
-when Cathy and Deborah make genuine connection, laugh, aha moments
-authenticity discussion
Resources: How to Discovery and FLEX Your Authenticity at Work
Top Tips
36:41 You should test your own unconscious bias with a free online tool at Harvard's Implicit Bias Test. The Equalist app is another tool to consider.
37:11 Women are leaning in and we need men to also lean in and meet us halfway.
Resources: How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Apple); How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Spotify)
39:28 Everyone in the workplace should “Shake, Not Stir” and create as many interactions between people from underrepresented groups
Resources: 5 Action Steps to Shake It Up With Greater Gender Diversity and Inclusion (Apple); 5 Actions Steps to Shake It Up with Greater Gender Diversity and Inclusion (Spotify)
40:25 Do not presume that men have higher competencies than women just because of gender
Resources: How to Understand Unconscious Bias So We Can See Women
40:54 Male allies, ask women what they need
Resources: How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Apple); How Male Allies Can Lean In for Measurable Gains to Achieve Parity, Parity Podcast (Spotify)
41:48 Watch for the SIGNPOSTS of a good culture including organizations with clear, gender-neutral communications and a real suggestion box
Resources: 8 Signposts of Cultures Where Women Thrive, Parity Podcast (Apple); 8 Signposts of Cultures Where Women Thrive, Parity Podcast (Spotify)
Parity Podcast Metrics
43:28 Season 1 Metrics
-Most downloaded episode How to Fight Gender Inequality with our Parity Prescription
-Second most downloaded episode is The Treasure Trove of Emotional Intelligence, Interview of Dr. Nithila Peter
-Top countries tuning in are United States, India, UK, and Germany
Sneak Peek for Season 2
47:48 Topics will include masculinity, the gender pay gap and more
Save the Date of March 8, 2022 for the Parity Podcast group discussion with guests Ashia Johnson and Lilian Agyemang-Yeboah as we discuss ways to #breakthebias for International Women's Day
Where You Can Find Us
Website: www.par-ity.com
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
Co-Hosts: Deborah Pollack-Milgate and Cathy Nestrick
Email CathyAndDeborah@par-ity.com with questions or comments
