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Similarly, rewarding people based on Even when
self-evaluations can disadvantage those women’s rights
folks who are modest. More often than
not, women are more modest than men organizations
in self-evaluations, thus less likely to be and movements
recognized for promotion.
catalyze
To strive for true gender equality, let’s transformative
consider five general guidelines on how
to interact with others at a personal or change, these
professional level. gains must
be defended,
protected, and
sustained.
#1 Collaboration is best in many ways because the sum is usually
greater than the parts. The expression, “No one is as smart as all
of us,” comes to mind. When we harness our energies we get a better
result. “Women are more likely than men to say they make people feel
important, included, and energized,” according to a classic Harvard
Business Review paper entitled “Ways Women Lead.” Obviously, men
can and should also be encouraged to collaborate. However, sometimes
the hunter/protector instinct (which was beneficial in the caveman era)
overcomes a rational approach to combine assets and abilities.
#2 Competing is what the ancient Roman gladiators, modern sports
fans, and current politicians enjoy. Clearly there is a place for
competition, which in general creates a better product or service
for consumers. However, excessive or vicious competition can cause
negativity and destruction. Sadly, recent political campaigns at all levels sure they are correct. Unwillingness to make educated guesses
have left those elected so polarized that working back to collaboration
has become difficult and sometimes impossible.
#3 Compromising is coming to some midpoint which is only partially
satisfying to those involved. When collaboration is out of reach,
then compromising can represent the next best alternative. Usually
compromise leads to short-term peace but not a long-term solution. An
example is the collective experience of five decades of women’s rights
organizing giving individual girls or women schooling, jobs, loans, access
to political office, or legal redress. These actions may empower women
individually, but do not necessarily translate into a better deal for other high-quality parenting skills that will promote self-esteem and
women. Deeper and more inclusive change in the status of women can
only be achieved by demand-driven approaches—by mobilizing women
and building their collective power to act together for their vision of a
more just society.
Even when women’s rights organizations and movements catalyze
transformative change, these gains must be defended, protected, and
sustained. Today, women’s rights victories that were won decades ago are
under fresh threat of reversal as backlash against the advances made by
women are being witnessed around the world, from the most developed
to the most impoverished countries and societies.
Life in Naples | December 2016
#4 Accommodating occurs when one
side gives up and the other side gets
their way. Again, not always a satisfying
experience and accommodation may
be fraught with later backlash and
animosity. Societal pressure plays a big
role here. According to statistics by the
Center for Disease Control, suicide is
four times higher among men than it is
women. “Suicide needs to be addressed
as a health and gender inequality—an avoidable difference in
health and length of life that … affects men more because of
the way society expects them to behave,” according to a report
by Samaritans, a U.K.-based suicide-prevention organization.
Bringing men into the conversation on gender equality takes
a step toward breaking down expectations of both genders. As
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson said in
a recent speech, “It is time that we all perceive gender on a
spectrum, not as two opposing sets of ideals.”
#5 Avoiding is the last common mechanism of interacting
or not interacting with others. Going around a concern
or problem usually just delays and subsequently magnifies the
difficulties of getting to a real solution. Consider the SATs,
which are administered to approximately 1.3 million high school
students annually. They have had a known gender bias in favor
of males in the past, but this bias was not corrected until a few
years ago. Research indicates that males are more likely to take
risks on the test and guess when they do not know the answer,
whereas females tend to answer the question only if they are
on this exam can have a significant negative impact on scores.
What can we do as a society to move to a more just culture
for all? Interestingly, fathers of daughters are the best advocates
for everyone having a fair chance to thrive in education, the
workplace, and society in general. Title IX came about in a
large measure by dads who wanted the same opportunities for
their daughters as was available for their sons. Statistics show
that a father’s caring presence can make all the difference in
raising a daughter who strives to reach her potential. How to
Father a Successful Daughter, a book by Nicky Marone, gives men
confidence in their daughters.
In a culture where everyone thrives, we harness everyone’s
potential. That’s a driving force behind gender equality and
encourages everyone to lead a longer, happier, and healthier life.
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