Gender Equality In Corporate America w/ Julie Des Jardins

Opening the conversation about gender equity in and out of the workplace is the first step to creating productive and positive allies. Women have always been in positions that promote a culturally feminine leadership, often behind the scenes or beside strong men. Historian Julie Des Jardins joins Powerful Conversations to discuss feminine modes of leadership in today’s political climate.

Julie has written multiple books about strong women who changed history, including her most recent work American Queenmaker about Missy Meloney, who you should definitely know. She has also recently started Credas, a consulting firm that helps American corporate companies introduce gender equity.

Using Missy Meloney as a strong example, Julie explains why feminine modes of leadership are needed, especially in the current political climate. Having a culturally feminine way of leading allows for less divisive politics, leading to a wider voting pool and clearer objectives. Historically, women have lead from behind the scenes, advocating and encouraging for other women and male allies.

In corporate America, women who climb the ladder and get to positions of leadership need to reject the notion they’ve joined a prestigious boy’s club. Instead, they need to help other women coming behind them rise the ladder with them. 

Change doesn’t happen when we have more women in leadership positions and leave it at that, change happens when we reimagine what these positions of leadership look like. For many women, this looks like being a mother and sharing the struggles they’ve gone through to get to the top.

There is power in language, especially in gendered language such as “fireman” and “manhole cover”. When we remove gender from language, we’re removing a barrier and bringing more power and possibility for gender equality. The world has been built around men, but they weren’t the only ones who created it.

Making your workplace more gender-neutral and equitable is possible. Julie genuinely believes that most people desire equity, they just don’t know how to get there. That’s why women need to be open to having the hard conversations with men so they can learn how to become a productive ally, instead of living in fear of saying the wrong thing.

Have you heard of Missy Meloney? How do you make sure you’re a productive and encouraging ally? What does leadership mean to you?

 

In This Episode:

• Why feminine modes of leadership are so needed, especially in our current political climate
• What it means to have a culturally feminine way of leading
• How there is power by being behind the scenes
• Why women in leadership roles need to help other women rise the ladder
• What power there is in the language we use
• How you can make your workplace more gender-neutral and equitable
• Why women have to create space for men to ask the hard questions so they can learn how to make positive changes to be a productive ally

 

Quotes:

“I would say in American corporate culture, there’s this idea that for a woman to succeed and move up the rungs of the corporate ladder, they have to get in with the boys and play the game like the boys are playing it. And that doesn’t always necessarily mean bringing the women up with you. I strongly urge successful women to reconsider that proposition.” (22:30)

“To solve the woman in science problem or the woman in any workplace problem, you can’t just throw more women into that culture, stir, and think that the problem is going to be solved. It is a culture problem. You have to find a way, from the ground up, to reimagine not just what the scientist looks like, but what our very notions of science are at a fundamental level.” (28:02)

“There are such subtle ways that we have infused these gendered presumptions into even the most seemingly neutral terms and concepts that this is something we need to start changing in work environments.” (36:46)

“Intention means everything. Let’s have a meaningful conversation where everybody in the room, no matter what their perspective is, has to be mindful of where they’re coming from in the conversation.” (45:36)

Links

Find Julie Des Jardins on Twitter | LinkedIn

 

Check out the complete episode page here 

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