Will women rule the world?
Lately, feminism has been gaining pop-cultural momentum. Taylor Swift, Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer, Emma Watson, Beyoncé: they’re at the top of the pop-cultural food chain, they identify as feminists and wear the title as a badge of honor. But will this help women to take over the world?
In some ways, it can look as though girls are on top. At school, girls have been outperforming boys for decades now, in every possible subject.1Girls get better grades and are more likely to pursue a university degree.
Women get stuck on their way to the top
Although there are regional differences, women now hold about 40% of jobs worldwide, with a growing percentage of women in management. In lower and middle management, women are represented, albeit not quite in proportion of their share in the workforce2. But somewhere on their way to the top, some of these women get stuck.
That’s bad for numerous reasons, an important one being that we need women in leading positions. If we want to improve the position of women in society and the opportunities they enjoy, then we need to improve laws and company policies. To do that, we need leaders who care about the issues women face.
Women representing women
Even in countries with laws governing gender equality, the reality is often very different. Women still get paid less for the same work as men, especially women with children. Women are over-represented in low-paid labor positions and are more likely to live in poverty. One in three women worldwide will suffer some form of physical and/or sexual violence that affects their ability to work.3
Actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson spoke about this issue in a speech she gave to the UN last year:
“I (..) think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights.”4
Emma Watson to men: Gender equality is your issue, too
We need more female CEOs, heads-of-state, legislators and board members to change these numbers. Women need to be better represented and women’s rights need to be defended. Who could be better-placed to do that than women? Besides, improving gender diversity doesn’t just benefit women. Study after study shows that diversity improves the bottom line.5
Glass ceiling and glass walls
So why don’t female managers manage to climb the ladder? The International Labor Organization suggests that, aside from a glass ceiling, it’s glass walls that are holding women back. Women managers are typically in functions such as human resources, communications and administration. They are less well represented in operations and sales; research and product development; and general management, managerial functions in which experience is seen as crucial in order to reach higher management or board positions.2
Interests and skills are not determined by gender
Gender stereotypes play an important role in this. Deeply rooted in our culture, they’re particularly hard to break. They’re evident, for example, in the way we treat boys and girls differently from a very young age. Flip through any toy catalogue. Instead of categorizing toys by interest, brands shamelessly tap into gender preconceptions, reinforcing the idea that interests and skills are determined by gender. (To get a picture of this issue, check out Dutch journalist Asha ten Broeke’s cringingly funny Tumblr 6, where she collects examples of this everyday sexism in advertising and the media.)
Who are you calling bossy?
The same goes for behavior. Behavior that is encouraged in boys is discouraged in girls. Emma Watson said in that same UN speech: “
I started questioning gender-based assumptions when, at the age of eight, I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents — but the boys were not.”
Sheryl Sandberg’s non-profit LeanIn.org started the campaign Ban Bossy, saying that assertive little boys are called ‘leaders’, whereas girls asserting themselves risk being branded ‘bossy’ , stating:
“When a little boy asserts himself, he’s called a ‘leader.’ Yet when a little girl does the same, she risks being branded ‘bossy.’ Words like bossy send a message: don’t raise your hand or speak up. By middle school, girls are less interested in leading than boys — a trend that continues into adulthood.”
“You will not determine my story — I will.”
This is where Taylor Swift and others come in. With millions of fans, they are important role models for girls and young women all over the world. And they use their influence to push a serious feminist agenda.
Comedian Amy Schumer devotes big parts of her work to women’s issues like sexism, oppressive beauty standards, sexual assault and slutshaming. She’s unapologetic about who she is and what she looks like, saying
“I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story — I will.”
Abortion, birth control & extremely fierce jumpsuits
Lena Dunham, writer, director and star of the hit series Girls, recently announced her newsletter Lenny, about which she writes:
“We want to entertain and inform you, but we also want to make the world better for women and the people who love them. That means keeping abortion safe and legal, keeping birth control in your pocket and getting the right people elected, all while wearing extremely fierce jumpsuits.”
Taylor Swift is constantly talking about what it means to be a feminist and never fails to call reporters out on their sexism. Lately, she’s been consciously surrounding herself with a group of insanely successful and attractive girlfriends, posing with them on red carpets and Instagram, featuring them in her music videos and inviting them onstage during concerts.
Inspiration instead of threat
“If we continue to show young girls that they are being compared to other girls, we’re doing ourselves a huge disservice as a society,” says Taylor Swift. “I surround myself with smart, beautiful, passionate, driven, ambitious women. Other women who are killing it should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you and inspire you rather than threaten you and make you feel like you’re immediately being compared to them.”
If this is the message we keep repeating, we might just see this generation of girls grow up to be confident, strong leaders ruling the world — possibly while wearing extremely fierce jumpsuits.
Watch this TED Talk by journalist Hanna Rosin about the rise of women:
1. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/04/girls-grades.aspx
3.http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/who-we-are/ilo-director-general/statements-and-speeches/WCMS_348734/lang–en/index.htm
4.http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/9/emma-watson-gender-equality-is-your-issue-too
6. http://seksisme.tumblr.com/
Written by Elise Fikse.
Categorized as Big Question Column.
Tagged with Feminism, women’s rights.
Originally published at tedx.amsterdam on September 29, 2015.
