3 Ways To Honor Women Beyond March

As we come to the close of Women’s History Month, it’s important to keep in mind that there are intangible efforts to honor and prioritize inclusion for women in the workplace that can and should happen year-round.  

Give women a seat at the table. 

There are numerous ways to show allyship; it needs to be practiced to eventually be instilled. Including women in important meetings and encouraging their opinions be heard is an easy first practice. Taking this a step further—make sure women get credit for their ideas. An easy way to execute this is to simply speak up for them and remind everyone where the idea originated from. Saying someone’s name when they aren’t in the room is a great practice of allyship. 

Dismantle biases. 

Bias holds women back from leadership roles. Women are expected to be nurturing, emotional, and sensitive, which aren’t words typically used to describe a leader. Men, on the other hand, are expected to be and are described as assertive, rational, and objective, which are traditional leadership qualities. However, when women aren’t being warm, gentle, or soft, and they assert themselves, they can be perceived as abrasive, bossy, or pushy. This is a conundrum for many women because if they act traditionally feminine, they are not seen as a leader and if they portray “traditional leadership qualities,” they are not seen as feminine. Dismantle this bias by recognizing the multiple attributes of an effective leader by both men and women.  

Offer mentorship and women-centric groups. 

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re the strongest when we cheer each other on.”

– Serena Williams  

Women supporting women is powerful and can effect so much change. Having a mentorship program in place at a company is crucial for young women starting their careers. When women who have been around for decades are available to younger women just starting out, it can foster confidence in them to feel empowered and facilitate growth quicker and strengthen their career. Women-centric groups, like employee resource groups, are effective ways to support women. Giving women the chance to speak among themselves and have a safe place to speak their minds and concerns contributes to their growth and connections with each other.  

While there is work to be done, don’t forget how far we have come. Keep these points in mind for the month of March and beyond, and we will see great change for women everywhere!