Share This Post
Trigger Warning: This article mentions workplace harassment and sexual assault.
As a female-owned marketing agency, we believe it is important to talk about our shared experiences and highlight our triumphs. Working at Hiveminded is an honor, as we are among inspiring women in leadership roles, like Frances!
As we wrap up Women’s History Month, we invite you to reflect on what it means to be a woman in business.
It’s no secret that women have shattered glass ceilings in the workplace. Not long ago, women were expected to fulfill certain roles like nursing, teaching, and caretaking (all of which are noble pursuits).
Now, women have more agency when choosing careers. Many also recognize that women can, and should, fulfill what were traditionally male roles.
To celebrate the unbelievable strength and resilience of women in the workforce, we must first acknowledge the many obstacles that they overcame.
Perhaps the most widely-known obstacle women face in the workplace is the wage gap. In many countries around the world, this is an entirely gendered gap. Women make up 50% of the workforce, yet they earn about 30% less than their male counterparts.
In the United States, this gap can be a bit deceiving, since it actually centers around motherhood. First, recruiters project that all women have a lack of reliability since they could have children at any time.
The AAUW (American Association of University Women) suggests that the women’s earnings along with their earning potential decrease when they become mothers. In fact, research shows that hiring managers are less likely to hire mothers than women without children.
When employers do make a job offer to a woman with children, they offer her a lower salary. Men, by contrast, benefit from a “fatherhood bonus” in which their earnings actually increase when they have children.
Clearly, this is a problem within our workforce. To learn more about the Motherhood Penalty and the research referenced in this section, check out this AAUW article.
Women earn less compensation than men on average, and they also actively overcome discrimination and harassment in many workplaces around the world. In recent years, women have drawn attention to this issue through the #MeToo movement and media exposure.
Even so, women are often still treated differently than men in the workplace.
Because women have been historically underestimated in society, it comes as no shock that men also underestimate them in the workplace. Whether motivated by a perceived lack of strength or intelligence, workplaces tend to target women on the job.
Unwanted physical/verbal advances at work are far more common than many think, and women are often the recipients. According to 50% of Americans, men getting away with workplace harassment is a major problem.
Luckily, the United States has recognized that women should be protected in the workplace. This means new discrimination laws are being introduced on a regular basis, and more workplaces are growing more inclusive all the time.
For more insight into statistics about workplace harassment, take a look at this Pew Research article.
It’s also worth noting the industries that are still predominantly male, including programmers, construction workers, firefighters, and pilots. We need more women learning code, flying planes, and saving lives!
Believe it or not, women’s history was not taught in schools or celebrated in the United States until the 1970’s. Now, women’s suffrage is included in school curriculum and teachers are more proactive when teaching women’s history.
Women’s history month exists to amplify female voices and celebrate femininity. It’s important to remember that this applies to women in business as well! This month, we hope our female team members felt especially valued and cherished.
Our female leaders have achieved success because of their strength and determination. These women are truly an inspiration! Our team is thankful to have such inspiring role models in our everyday lives. To read more about our story and our mission, visit our About Page.
Hiveminded knows the struggles women endure in their lives, especially in the workplace. We also know firsthand the strength that exists within each and every woman. Women in business are powerful!
We believe that supporting our team’s professional development and growth empowers working women in our society. Listening to them and taking them seriously, especially regarding workplace harassment, is crucial to supporting these women as well.
This month, we’re choosing to celebrate feminine joy and triumphs to leave a legacy for our daughters, sisters, and friends. Women belong in business.
We also know that actions speak louder than words. That’s why we have committed to supporting women and mothers in our community in multiple ways, including non-profit partnerships and fundraising.
Follow along on the journey! Visit our Facebook today.
– Rachel
Staying up to date with the constantly changing landscape of digital marketing can be a full-time job. But we know in order to succeed in
On April 14th, 2023 marketers, business owners, and social media lovers alike woke to some interesting news. CNN reported that the Montana House had passed
As a female owned company, we always look for ways to support and celebrate female leaders. Read more for our guide to women in business.
