How to Break the Bias with Guests Lilian Agyemang-Yeboah and Ashia Johnson
Release Date: 03/06/2022
What Is It about Taylor Swift?
Parity Podcast
The Parity Podcast has been curious about Taylor Swift's stunning success as a pop star and her potential as a role model to the next generation of women. In this episode, Deborah is joined by four Taylor Swift fans from across the country, ranging from the teens to late 20s, to discuss what she means to them. They describe her music as poetic, playful, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable and accessible, lending insight to the source of her magic. Offering a sound track for the experience of growing up, and loving and living, Swift makes a profound impact, reaching across cultural and...
info_outline
The Barbieland Mess
Parity Podcast
Dr. Nithila Peter returns to the Parity Podcast and joins Deborah to discuss the magic and mess of the Barbie movie. Drawing on her background in media studies, Nithila offers insight into the cinematic experience and the bookends of the movie, from the birth of Barbie to the gynecologist's office. Simulatenously inspired and horrified by the perfectly sculpted Barbie as a role model, Nithila and Deborah discuss the film's depiction of the hyper-femininine and hyper-masculine worlds, and what they reveal about parity. They discuss the complexity of the Barbie doll as a toy, along with the...
info_outline
No Need to Apologize: A Conversation with Kara Wojnowski
Parity Podcast
In this episode, Cathy and Deborah speak to Kara Wojnowski, a Marketing Manager at Biorigin Specialty Products, who has studied the communication differences between women and men. One large difference is many women's tendency to apologize, even when there is no reason to do so. How does over-apologizing undermine a person's credibility? And when should someone apologize and when not? Kara discusses these issues and more with the Parity Podcast, and helps us think critically about communication styles--without violating Parity Podcast's golden rule against trying to change women.
info_outline
The DEI Vocabulary List
Parity Podcast
Over the last several years, we've developed a brand-new vocabulary to talk about very old problems. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah explore the importance of that vocabulary, as well as its imperfections and limitations. They also discuss how seemingly uncontroversial terms have become oh-so controversial, while identifying solutions to overcome the divide.
info_outline
There is a Better Way: INVERSITY's Approach to DEI with Karith Foster
Parity Podcast
We welcome Karith Foster whose new approach to achieving workplace inclusion rejects the use of blame and shame in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She offers a new path forward, recognizing that all of us are different and unique, and true change requires everyone to participate. You can learn more about how
info_outline
Mental Health and Getting Well in the Workplace, with Vivia Chen
Parity Podcast
Kicking off the fourth season, Cathy and Deborah welcome Vivia Chen to discuss the challenges of getting the care you need for your mental health. Vivia, an award winning columnist and prolific opinion writer, was denied short term disability because she was not deemed "sad enough." Vivia discusses mental health stereotypes and solutions for change. You can find and on LinkedIn.
info_outline
The Backlash: Unpacking the State of DEI
Parity Podcast
In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the revolt against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts - and women - in the workplace. How did the seemingly noncontentious goal of inclusivity become controversial? More importantly, what can we learn from this back lash to transform our own approach? As always, we offer solutions.
info_outline
Believing in Yourself, A Conversation with Angela B. Freeman
Parity Podcast
In this episode, we talk to Angela B. Freeman, mom, wife, law firm partner, and podcaster about where she's been and what she hopes for in teaming up with others. We discuss the moments White women have failed to be allies and partners to Women of Color, and what we all need to do to step up, including recognizing the advantages some people have based on skin color. Along with firmly believing in herself but knowing she had to be twice as good, Angela carried - and continues to carry - a deep curiousity for others.
info_outline
Pipeline Problems and Strategies for Women, 2023 Year in Review
Parity Podcast
The year 2023 brought incremental gains at the top for women overall but not for women of color. Women in middle management also lost ground, leaving open the question of whether gains at the top were a passing fancy. Join us to discuss 2023 challenges as well as solutions.
info_outline
We're Not Going Back
Parity Podcast
Join us for a discussion with Blessing Adesiyan who entered corporate American with a baby in her arms, literally. She shares her nuggets about creating a care infrastructure for workers at all levels and how businesses can best adapt in this new post-COVID landscape. As Blessing says, we're not going back to how it was before. In this new reality, caring about workers is as imperative for their well-being as it is for the bottom line.
info_outlineWe’ve been called bellicose, belligerent, and bombastic, and connected with male allies at banana stands, and through these experiences, we have solutions for you to break the bias. Together with guests Lilian Agyemang-Yeboah and Ashia Johnson, we offer over 20 ways that you can break the bias, the 2022 International Women’s Day theme.
Subscribe! Time-stamped show notes are below.
1:54 Introduction of Guests
2:15, Lilian Agyemang-Yeboah
- Born and raised in Ghana
- Plastics engineering degree from UMass - Lowell
- Current position is an applications engineer at a life sciences company
- Host of new podcast to be launched by SPE - Plastics and Beyond Podcast
2:30, 3:33 Aisha Johnson - she, her, hers
- Moved 7 times growing up so she is accustomed to building relationships and starting anew
- Currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and does CSR and Sustainability work for Amazon
- Mother is a role model
- Co-Host of The Core Intentions Podcast
International Women’s Day
7:37 2022 theme is #breakthebias - see IWD resources
7:50 We need more attention on unconscious bias
Stories of Bias
9:32 Interruptions during meetings and calls
9:40 Feeling of invisibility during meetings
10:45 Being called bellicose, belligerent, and bombastic
11:36 Suggestion that men do the heavy lifting with the woman doing the simple task
14:25, 17:05 Male boss thinks you are pretty
17:32 Mindset of women as we dress for work
18:45 Women face a double bind: we need to show up with make-up at work but we can’t show up with too much make-up at work
19:10 Expectations of how women show up on camera during the pandemic
20:14 Intersectionality of Sexism and Racism
20:36, 21:20 Difficult or impossible to disentangle sexism vs. racism
21:40 Intersectional experience
21:48 Focus on what you can control
Tips to Break the Bias
22:42 Manage your own bias - start with the Harvard Implicit Bias test
24:00 Create diverse teams
24:35 Use diverse hiring panels and diverse pools of applicants
25:26 Educate yourself and others on unconscious bias - don’t try to solve the problem without understanding it first
26:09 Bring men into the conversation - lean in male allies
27:00 Focus on inclusion and equity
27:30 Give everyone an opportunity to speak up
27:34 Create a culture of psychological safety
28:11 Lead with empathy - be emotionally and mentally open for change
28:41 Be an active listener
29:15 Build relationships with people who are different from you
30:14, 32:19 Be a mentor to someone who is underrepresented - give guidance and career advice
30:14, 32:26 Be a sponsor to someone who is underrepresented - be an advocate, help with promotions, say our names in rooms where we are not present, help move our careers, pull women up as allies move up
34:45 Male allies should first consider the possibility that a woman experienced bias
36:36 A women should develop a plan before discussing that she experienced bias
38:48, 40:43 When dealing with trolls, first protect yourself - consider blocking or reporting trolls when the comments occur repeatedly
42:50 Don’t feed the trolls
43:50 Remind people that DEI is about inclusion and not exclusion or throwing anyone out
45:40 Discuss bias after “the heat of the moment” - don’t turn the other cheek every time
46:50 Beware of bullies particularly during the early stages of a career
49:42 Don’t let the bully intimidate you or impact your work performance
50:09 Consider the power dynamic before taking on a bully
Where You Can Find Us
Website: www.par-ity.com
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
Co-Hosts: Deborah Pollack-Milgate and Cathy Nestrick
Email [email protected] with questions or comments