As first-year associates, my peers and I are learning to navigate a new workplace and its culture. I suddenly find myself saying things like “out of pocket” and “circle back,” and I’ve never sent or received more e-mails than I have in the last six months. Recently, I received an e-mail from a senior associate …
Recently, much attention has rightfully been given to the pervasive instances of sexual harassment, discrimination and gender disparity in the workplace. As young professionals, we see an opportunity to urge our peers to think critically about what we can do to improve this climate. Many of the issues that need to be addressed in BigLaw …
3 Ways Young Professionals Can Promote Gender Equality in the Workplace Read More »
Language reflects and incorporates social norms, signaling—whether the speaker is aware of it or not—expectations about the way that people are supposed to behave. Women are supposed to be caring and helpful. Men are supposed to be competitive and assertive. For our purposes, it isn’t necessary to explain how, historically, these conceptions have developed. It …
How the Cookie Crumbles: Implications of Gendered Compliments in the Workplace Read More »
Eighth-year associate Amanda Bartlett and first-year associate Kate Saba recall an email exchange discussing the gender politics around women apologizing at work. Amanda Bartlett (Eighth-year associate, Litigation Department): Kate–Remember that time I laid into you about over-apologizing when you hadn’t done anything wrong, you pushed back, and we ended up with “Let’s write an article about …
Earlier this week, I caught myself on the phone saying to a coworker, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but…” As those words came out of my mouth, I wondered why I had felt the need to introduce my thought that way. Firstly, I was fairly certain I was not wrong. I was merely stating a …
Some women, like me, have a tendency to internalize feedback and criticism in ways that can be harmful. It is important to understand that feedback is a tool in your personal and professional development, but also that not all criticism should be taken to heart. Receiving feedback, especially in a formal setting, can be nerve-wracking. …
Goodbye, Haters: Learning How to Navigate Feedback in the Workplace Read More »
Women represent about 51% of the United States’ population. We earn 60% of all master’s degrees in the United States and control or influence more than 70% of consumer spending. Despite these figures, women are still largely absent from corporate boardrooms and corner offices: only about 5% of CEOs in corporate America are women. Of …
Late into election night, women across America realized that they would have to wait another four years—at least—before a woman would sit behind a heavy desk in the Oval Office. Party affiliation aside, it is difficult for most women to look at the portraits of centuries of presidents without a glimmer of disappointment that no …
We recently spoke with Heidi DuBois, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Finance at BNY Mellon, who spearheaded a collaborative report between BNY Mellon and the United Nations Foundation titled “Return on Equality: Investment Opportunities to Close the Global Gender Gap.” The report, which was launched at the World Economic Forum earlier this …
Shining a Light on the Market Potential of Gender Equality Read More »
The issue of gender inequality in the workplace is a frequently discussed topic and one that is unfortunately entrenched in the corporate world. According to research by CNNMoney and Catalyst, women occupy only 14% of the top five executive positions in S&P 500 companies, fewer than 5% of CEOs are female and women hold only …