Fearless Girl: why does gender equality still need a statue?
Since March 8th 2017, New York has a second Statue Of Liberty. Only this one is called ‘Fearless Girl’. And this one is not about the liberty of immigrants and others coming to America, but about the liberty of women rising up through the infamous thick glass ceilings of the corporate world.
After already having won a total of 18 Lions as well, at this year’s Cannes Advertising Awards festival, Fearless Girl is easily the Advertising ‘Person’ Of The Year. Does she have a name? No, of course not. Fearless Girl can be Jane, Margaret, Sara, Conchita, Amina and any woman that wants to make it to the top, but is somehow kept from it. Which is why thousands of women have proudly stood next to Fearless Girl. Why millions have shared content about her on every social media platform out there.
According to Adweek.com, Fearless Girl, dauntlessly facing the famous Raging Bull in Manhattan’s Financial District, is this year’s number 1 ‘ad’. Yes, the word ad is within quotation marks, because it’s not an actual ad, of course. But maybe it’s this kind of impactful, meaningful, in-your-face advertising that we need more of these days, when so many are either ad blocking or Netflixing their way out of the marketing funnel. And although it’s advertising within quotation marks, its effect is very real.
David & Goliath
Upon seeing her and reading about the philosophy behind Fearless Girl, I must admit I was touched. Sure, she’s small and no match for an actual raging bull. But as a visual metaphor she can squash the bullies of the corporate world under her little pinky or toe. It’s a present day David & Goliath. And the fact that Fearless Girl is so much smaller than Raging Bull, is probably her very strength. The contrast between her apparent frailty and Raging Bull’s brawn is what makes her so powerful. It’s Raging Bull’s power versus her purity, his roar versus her resilience. As with David, we can’t help but feel instant liking for her courage and stamina, right?
Shame on us
As said, Fearless Girl is not an ad, but a statue. Although she did have a result every ad agency or client would be envious of. So many social shares, so much media coverage. Fearless Girl has been a discussion topic at so many kitchen and boardroom tables for so long. That’s great, because there can never be too much attention for gender equality. True as that may be, you could just as easily say: ‘Big Shame On Us’. Apparently, so many of us still have to be convinced about women bringing something essential to the table. Big shame on us, that it’s taken (and is still taking) us so long to actually see the power of female inspiration, dedication and perseverance. When all this time, female power and inspiration have literally been staring us in the face: our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, spouses and daughters have been showing their power and ingenuity daily, for so long. Then, why do we still need convincing when it comes to making and taking million euro decisions?
Our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, spouses and daughters have been showing their power and ingenuity for so long
Female CEO
These past two years, I have frequently told friends and family how great I think it is that my CEO at Greenhouse Group is a woman (Marion Koopman). But the more I’ve said it, the sillier and out-dated it started to sound. And the more it got me thinking about how — apart from gender — also color, culture as well as age or sexual preference should not be a reason to either select or reject someone as a new member for your organization.
‘Select or reject’ is a decision you make based on whatever it is that this new person brings to the team. Some teams really need a more aggressive, goal-oriented type of manager. Some undoubtedly need someone who can build bridges. Some need more balls. And all of these needs could very well be met by either hiring a man or a woman, from any age, colour or sexual preference. My standpoint as well as experience is that diversity makes any team from any size in any context so much better (and simply more fun as well). That shouldn’t need a statue anymore. That should be engraved in all of our minds and hearts.