I never worried about this until I had a daughter. Don’t get me wrong, I was aware of the problems and helped combat them in my own way. But I never worried about it like I do now.
Nothing like knowing she is counting on me to help get the world’s act together to put the pressure on.
So reading a newly released report by the Council of Canadian Academies, co-authored by Western Organizational Behavior professor Alison M. Konrad and Anatomy and Cell Biology professor Lynne-Marie Postovit, didn’t help my anxiety.
The study showed despite significant progress in the representation of women in the university research ranks, there are still serious gender equity challenges that must be overcome. According to Strengthening Canada’s Research Capacity: The Gender Dimension, women’s progress in Canadian universities is uneven and dependent on discipline and rank.
It is an interesting, although sadly unsurprising, study with widespread implications – and applications. The problems outlined are not just inside the gates of Canadian universities; they are everywhere. And I have no idea why they have yet to be addressed.
Reading the study, I was reminded of one of my points of pride from my previous life, editing a small, culturally conservative Southern U.S. daily newspaper. During my time, I brought in more female editors than any editor-in-chief in the 175-year history of the newspaper. The positive implications for the community, and for the quality of the newspaper, were immediate and deep-felt.
Of course, that being true, I also lost more female editors than any other editor-in-chief in the 175-year history of my newspaper. Some were for good reasons – better pay at bigger, more prestigious newspapers. That’s how I like losing talent – onward and upward.
But there were too many lost for no reason. Check that, there were too many lost for inexcusable reasons.
I remember sweating over HR paperwork with more than one female editor just to get 12 weeks of paid maternity time off using a combination of sick days, vacation days and voodoo. After that time ended, the decision was tough – return to work, not quite ready, or try something else. I lost every time, and I don’t blame them.
I put a lot of this blame at the feet of generational obstruction. Too many Boomers, too far removed from raising a family or making a more humble wage, are making decisions which drift companies further away from actual employee needs. And, as those Boomers continue to hang onto the decision-making positions, desperately looking for another few years to rebuild company-sponsored nesteggs other generations will never see, the workplace continues to stagnate and not reflect the needs of the current worker.
It’s akin to my parents, who complain about the lack of young families at their church. “Why can’t we get more families at our 8 a.m. services?” “Why not make the service later so families have more time to get ready?” “But the service has always been at 8 a.m.”
This slowing of workplace’s evolution, while not directed at, does unequally impact women.
Why, as the study points out, are we still forcing people to make paid work vs. family life balance decisions? What is taking so long to get women in leadership positions to serve as role models? And, seriously, are we still dealing with a salary gap? (Of course, my previous employer solved that by paying everyone less. Sort of a ‘sinking tide lowers all boats’ kinda thing.)
This study provides insight into a small slice of a larger issue. But it’s a valuable read for those inside and outside academia.
I worry about being able to teach my daughter to speak up and fight for her place. Then again, I wish I didn’t have to. I wish my generation, and the handful after mine, would solve this thing before she has to worry about it.
I am not a gender theorist or workplace researcher; I am just a dad who knows the problems are too complex to boil down to quick fixes or bullet-pointed solutions. But they are solvable with implications that would positively impact millions. Honestly, I have trouble picturing that many people.
So, when I read about issues like this, I think of that one little girl who, at least right now, looks to me to solve everything from spilled milk to sleepless nights.
I love that little girl so much, a better workplace is the least I owe her.