Black Mirror: Gender Discrimination at Work
On 3rd Higher Education & HR Conclave by BW People the discussion on gender discrimination began with the survey of Forbes where top 100 highest paid athletes list could be easily renamed as the "highest paid male athletes in the world". There was not even a single woman on the list. The absence of women is nothing but a black mirror to the problem of gender discrimination at work. Or so if we choose to see it. It is high time to address the elephant in the room.
The panelist consisted of Shalu Manan, HR Head (Genpact) Jayati Roy, Director, HR (Barco electronic system) Jayendra Chaturvedi, HR Head (Paayas Milk) and Zoya Brar, Founder and Managing Director (CORE Diagnostics).
The panel was moderated by Taniya Tikoo, Assistant Editor, BW People.
Ms. Roy initiated the panel by saying “We need women across roles and across the industry. The unfortunate part is when the male takes a back seat and wants to stay at home, the most surprising part is not that the men are at home, it is that why is it such big deal for the outsiders knowing that the family is balanced as it should be”
Tikoo further added that “Just taking a back seat to nurture someone else dream, is not justified to both the genders”
Ms.Brar voiced her opinion on Gender discrimination, ”Gender discrimination creates an impact on both the gender. The moment you allow people to get their thoughts, then monotony will break automatically. Nobody can take your decisions except you. A woman should know that she’s equal at home, as a child, before claiming that there is a gender discrimination.”
Ms. Tikoo then spoke about her professional relationships by stating that “In my profession, I have to talk to men, and I have to build a relationship but not in the way that some of them might want. Building a professional relationship.
Chaturvedi being the only male on the panel stated “If you have a girl child, and she has the caliber to do the job which requires the talent or the knowledge. Forbes 69% Female toppers to 31% Male toppers and whereas in the corporate world, the numbers reverse. it is 70% working men and 30% working women.”
Further, Manan explained “We have to find a middle path and encourage the young population to create a common ground for both the genders. Men are stereotyped to ask for flexibility at work to look after their home or child, I think we need to just look at both the genders equally responsible for taking care of the kids.”
Ms. Reddy then ended the discussion by raising a suggestion of proposing to all the HR to go through the articles on Gender and biology before making the policies.
