THE corporate world is being shocked to its very foundations as the diversity question echoes around the corridors of power. Is diversity about to be recognised as the key indicator of companies’ current and future success? Will investors ask for diversity stats before the P&L? It looks like it.
Frequent and regular articles about gender diversity are appearing in the mainstream media, and while most of these are still markedly hostile, they do highlight continuing issues. What has changed and what is positive is that diversity issues are being regularly reported and clearly acknowledged as a problem to be solved.
Last week the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) gender pay gap report revealed that women earn 18 per cent less than men on average. It also found that the gap balloons after women have children, raising the prospect that mothers are missing out on pay rises and promotions. The positive here is that they are measuring it, they are publishing it, and the media are reporting it.
But some media followed the same format as on many occasions when it comes to perceived women’s issues. They brought together two women with differing views on the accuracy of the statistics, encouraging the wrong argument.
What would have been enlightening and informative would have been a discussion with people who understand the problem, and who have solutions or who want to find solutions.
Positive also, in last week’s Irish News, was the article about Jeremy Corbyn’s launch of a document detailing 10 pledges to advance gender equality for women in the Labour Party. He did get into trouble though when he talked about banning after hours drinking as this presumed that childcare was solely the role of the mother.
Labour MP Stella Creasy said while she agreed networking was gendered the answer was not ending after work drinks but for "fathers to do equal childcare so mothers can go out and enjoy themselves".
Again I would say it does not matter whose solution is right or wrong, what’s great is that it is recognised as a problem and people are seeking solutions.
Within the Sunday Times alone I found four stories related to gender. First the front page of the Sunday Times, Nicola Sturgeon spoke about the baby she lost, about how she was hurt by assumptions that she decided to put her political career before having children. Although intensely private she goes public as she is conscious of her responsibility as a role model - she does not want girls to conclude that women must sacrifice part of their lives to climb the career ladder.
Another story is on the success of the number of blogs and books celebrating the “imperfect mum”, the “Brummy instead of Yummy mum” and the “Hurrah for Gin” mum (a reference to a new book). It is right to take the pressure off all mums working or not? If we took the pressure off trying to be the perfect parent (which is not possible, my kids inform me) then maybe more women would step up to higher roles.
Another article talks about the radical new guidelines at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. In response to their 1916 centenary programme which featured just one woman in the line-up of 10 new playwrights they have committed the Republic’s National theatre to achieving full gender equality within the next five years. These new gender commitments go beyond play wrights to include director, designers, actors, stage managers and more.
And finally, the best one, on the front of the business pages no less “FTSE firms face targets for women in top jobs”.
This is the one that confirms that the future of successful business is diversity. It has been conceded by Sir Philip Hampton, chairman of Glaxo Smith Kline that companies will have to set tough targets if the campaign to put more women in top earning positions is to succeed. This campaign, although supporting gender equality, is really about successful business. The business case is driving the call for women at the top; the future of business is diversity.
:: Roseann Kelly is chief executive of Women in Business (www.womeninbusinessni.com), the largest and fastest growing business network for female entrepreneurs and business leaders in Northern Ireland.
