HOW TO BE EMPATHETIC TO WOMEN IN IT“In our objective to achieve gender equality, we must not only seek

opportunities because we are women. We must seek success because we

are capable.”

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Pranathi Birudugadda

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Strong

Makes decision quickly

Can lead the team easily

Commanding

At times abrasive

Strict

Disciplined

Would you want to work with the above said person?

IMAGINE A MAN WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS

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IMAGINE A WOMAN WITH THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS

Strong

Makes decision quickly

Can lead the team easily

Commanding

At times abrasive

Strict

Disciplined

Would you want to work with the above said person?

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As per a survey conducted by a voluntary group

78% people felt positive about the male described with

the above characteristics and are willing to work with him.

12% people felt positive about the women described

with the above characteristics but are not very open to work with

her.

10% has no issues with either of them.

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We tend to attribute the qualities of strong commitment and

commanding to Men referring them to being a “Leader”

If a woman portrays the same qualities, we refer to her as

“bossy” and “attitude”

A study from Palo Alto Software, a Eugene, Oregon-based technology company,

shows that the women who do grow up to be leaders and display characteristics like

confidence and decisiveness are almost twice as likely to get called “bossy”.

WHAT DOES THIS SURVEY PROVE?

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COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY WORKING WOMEN

COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY WORKING WOMEN

Work Life Balance

Pressure from family to be an ideal bahu

Family responsibility is considered Women’s sole responsibility

Working beyond the core hours

and the list goes on……

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Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Work-life_balance

WORK LIFE BALANCE? IS IT GENDERED AS WELL

Working mothers often have to challenge perceptions and stereotypes that evolve as a working woman becomes a working mother. Working mothers are perceived as less competent and less worthy of training than childless women. Another study, focusing on professional jobs, found that mothers were 79 percent less likely to be hired and are typically held to a higher standard of punctuality and performance than childless women. The moment when she becomes a mother, a working woman is held at a completely different norm than her childless colleagues. In the same Cuddy et al. (2004) study, men who became fathers were not

perceived as any less competent, and in fact, their perceived warmth increased.

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PROVIDING POLICIES THAT WILL HELP WOMEN TO BALANCE THEIR CAREER AND FAMILY

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PROVIDING CRECHES AND CRIBS AT WORKPLACE

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Extended paid maternity leaves

Providing flexible work hours

Having play school facilities in office premises

Work from home options

Equal opportunity for women who come back after long break

Increase in paid paternity leaves

Perks for new moms/dads

Companies that provide these options are likely to be referred to as female friendly

workplaces —SiliconAngel

POLICIES ADOPTED BY MOST ORGANISATIONS

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MATERNITY IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, WHAT NEXT?

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FEW THINGS THAT MIGHT BE HURTING…

Planning meetings beyond working hours

Not giving equal chance for women to speak up in meetings

Even if they struggle to pitch in their opinion, it goes unheard

Having chai sutta meetings to discuss project details

Late night team outings/celebrations

Unintentional chauvinism

While the above mentioned problems are true for most women, there is a chance

for few exceptions

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FEW THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP…

Encouraging women to come forward and speak

Improving team dynamics by adding more women

Women rally days to recognise their contribution

Women hackathons, tech events, counselling sessions

Having dedicated core team for grievance redressal

These are few things that can be adopted at organisation or project level.

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WHAT A WOMAN SHOULD BE DOING

“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than

expected”

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DISCUSSING ABOUT DAILY CHALLENGES

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BEING VOCAL ABOUT OUR OPINIONS AND ISSUES

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TREATING ONESELF AS AN EQUAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM

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LEAN IN AND NEVER STEP BACK

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THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO THE TOP - UP, SIDEWAYS AND DOWN

FIND ALL MENTORS ALONG THE WAY

YOUR PATH DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AS SOMEONE ELSE’S

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“It has taken 30 years for the Indian women to get out of the

kitchen and take her place at the boardroom. But in these 30

years, very few Indian men have gotten into the kitchen”

“I don’t want to be your other half

I believe that one and one make two”

“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”

—Oprah Winfrey

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM OUR PARTNERS

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WE CAN NEVER HAVE IT ALL. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DITCH THAT SUPERWOMAN APRON!

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YIN AND YANG. LEFT BRAIN AND RIGHT BRAIN. MALE AND FEMALE. TRUE SUCCESS REQUIRES A BALANCED VIEW OF THINGS. SEEK A

BALANCE

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USE YOUR INTUITION TO FIND THE RIGHT THING TO DO

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Involve family in child care

Be realistic about your commitments

Be ready to confront your fears and discuss them

Educate the family about your goals and aspirations

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM FAMILY

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CHANGE IN THE PERSPECTIVE IS MUCH NEEDED

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WITH BEST HOPE IN THE FUTURE

@Pranathi_B

/Pranathi.B

THANK YOU