Beyond the Glass: Dismantling Bias and Creating an Equitable Workplace for Women
The workplace can often feel like an uphill battle for women, with invisible barriers blocking their path to success. Unconscious bias remains a pervasive force, undermining women's careers and creating an uneven playing field. These hidden assumptions and stereotypes about gender can manifest in countless ways, from missed promotions and dismissed ideas to subtle microaggressions that chip away at confidence and create a hostile environment.
If you're a woman navigating the professional world, you're not alone in these experiences, but it can still feel isolating. Particularly because these biases can be difficult to pinpoint, especially since women are often socialized to avoid conflict and prioritise harmony at all costs.
It's this very challenge — the insidious nature of bias and the pressure to conform — that inspired me to focus my coaching on female leaders. I'm driven to help women shatter those invisible barriers, navigate the complexities of unconscious bias, and claim the success they deserve. Because to thrive – or even survive – in patriarchal workplaces, we need to be bold and unapologetic in our leadership. And we need more female leaders at the top of businesses, organisations, and government to create a more equitable and empathetic world. To do this, we must understand and actively manage unconscious bias.
Unmasking the Hidden Enemy
Unconscious bias can be tricky to identify. It often lurks in the shadows, disguised as not-so-harmless jokes, subtle assumptions, or seemingly neutral decisions. Let's shed light on some common manifestations of gendered unconscious bias:
The Likability Trap: Women are often expected to be warm and nurturing, and those who deviate from this stereotype by being too assertive or too ambitious can be labeled as "difficult" or "aggressive". This phenomenon has been studied extensively, with research by Madeline Heilman, professor of psychology at New York University, and others revealing that women, who display stereotypically masculine traits like assertiveness, often face a backlash in the workplace. This can manifest as negative performance evaluations, lower likability ratings, and fewer opportunities for advancement.
The Prove-It-Again Bias: Women are frequently asked to prove their competence repeatedly while men's abilities are often assumed. This creates a frustrating cycle where women constantly have to reassert their expertise and are held to higher standards than their male counterparts. This phenomenon has been highlighted by Joan C. Williams and Rachel Dempsey in their book "What Works for Women at Work".
The Maternal Wall: Mothers and women of childbearing age face assumptions about their commitment to work and are often passed over for opportunities. Michelle Budig, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has extensively researched the "Maternal Wall," demonstrating how mothers face significant discrimination in the workplace, including lower wages and fewer promotions compared to women without children. My survey echoed this, with respondents highlighting challenges related to re-entering the workforce after having children and the perception that mothers are less dedicated to their careers.
The Tightrope Bias: Women must walk a fine line between being seen as too feminine (and therefore not taken seriously) or too masculine (and therefore unlikable). This constant balancing act can be exhausting and limiting, forcing women to navigate a narrow path of acceptable behaviour. This balancing act known as the "Tightrope Bias," is explored in Joan C. Williams and Rachel Dempsey's book "What Works for Women at Work".
Why is Unconscious Bias so Difficult to Identify?
The insidious nature of unconscious bias makes it particularly challenging to recognise and address. It operates below our conscious awareness, often disguised as "just the way things are," "gut feelings," or "intuition." We may genuinely believe we are being fair and objective while our hidden biases are silently influencing our decisions and behaviours.
Furthermore, societal norms and cultural expectations often reinforce these biases, making them seem "normal" or even "natural". Women themselves may have internalised these biases, leading to self-doubt and hesitation in asserting their voices and ambitions. As Olga aptly put it in my 2024 Unconscious Gender Bias Survey, "It was blatant, so I am not sure whether it would be considered 'Unconscious bias'". This highlights that sometimes these biases aren't unconscious at all; they're overt and deliberate, yet we've been conditioned to accept them as the norm.
The Toll on Women and the Workplace
These biases are detrimental to both individuals and organisations. They create significant barriers, leading to lower job satisfaction, higher turnover rates, and a less diverse and inclusive workplace. The impact on individual women is profound, leading to:
A belief in needing to over-perform: Constantly striving for the same recognition as male colleagues.
Eroding confidence: Self-doubt and questioning abilities become commonplace.
Suppressing strengths: Holding back on assertiveness due to fear of negative perception.
These factors contribute to chronic stress, burnout, and the loss of talented women from the workforce. A 2022 study by the Diversity Council Australia found that employees who experienced workplace discrimination in the past 12 months were twice as likely to be looking for another job than those who hadn't. This highlights the tangible cost of unconscious bias for businesses. My own survey further supports this, with many women sharing experiences of being interrupted or talked over in meetings (81.7%), having their ideas dismissed or credited to male colleagues (62%), and feeling undervalued or disrespected because of their gender (54.9%).
Counteracting Unconscious Bias: Taking Action
While dismantling systemic bias requires collective action, we can't wait for the world to catch up. As women, we can empower ourselves by actively challenging these biases.
Here are some key strategies to start breaking the bias:
Navigating the Complexities: Empowering Change Through Coaching
While individual efforts are crucial, overcoming unconscious bias can be a complex journey. It requires not only recognising and challenging these biases but also developing the skills and confidence to navigate a workplace that may not always be equitable.
That's where coaching can be a powerful tool. As a coach specialising in female leadership, I work with women to uncover and address these hidden barriers, build resilience, and develop strategies to thrive in the face of unconscious bias.
Unconscious bias is a pervasive challenge, but it's not insurmountable. By acknowledging its existence, understanding its impact, and taking proactive steps to address it, we can create a workplace where every woman feels valued, heard, and empowered to reach her full potential.
Questions for Reflection
Reflect on your own workplace experiences: Have you ever witnessed or experienced unconscious bias against women? What were the specific circumstances, and how did it impact you or others?
Examine your decision-making: Are there instances where your decisions might have been influenced by unconscious biases? How can you challenge your assumptions and make more equitable choices?
Lead the change: How can you advocate for women and other underrepresented groups in your workplace? What steps can you take to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone?
If you're ready to break through the barriers of bias and step into your full power as a leader, reach out today. Let's work together to create a workplace where every woman can thrive.
Understanding the complexities of unconscious bias is the first step. In my next article Nurturing a New Narrative: Micro-Feminisms as Seeds of Growth, we will explore powerful micro-feminist actions and strategies you can implement today to challenge these biases and foster a more inclusive workplace.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JO WISE
Master Certified Coach with the ICF who is dedicated to elevating female leaders to new heights. A woman who lives life boldly, loves adventure, and finds joy in the simple things. She's a surfer, gardener, hiker, partner, and proud mum of one teen and 3 chickens.
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