The Cost of Misogyny

Misogyny doesn’t always involve men. Boom – drop the mike! Misogyny is defined as a dislike of, contempt for, or prejudice against women.
 
It involves anything from unsolicited comments, favouring men at the expense of women, aggressive or intimidating behaviour, gender pay gap, ignoring or speaking over women, stealing (or rejecting) ideas from women, and limiting opportunities based on gender.
 
However, misogyny has wider reaching ramifications than the effect on the female employee. When women are excluded from upper management roles - and in some cases, industries and entire workplaces - it has a knock-on effect on customers, clients and stakeholders, as well as investors, suppliers and vendors. Male-dominated workplaces can appear less innovative and reluctant to, or incapable of, adapting. This can impact capacity to attract a greater range of good workers – especially Gen Z & Millennials. Then you’re stuck with an aging workforce about to retire taking all your IP and operational knowledge with them!
 
None of us want to admit our workplace may have traces of misogyny but let’s be real - it’s Australia - the home of sarcasm, sexist colloquialisms, and ‘take a spoonful of cement and harden up!’ banter. We’re proud of ‘keeping it real’ and the fact that “everyone can take a joke”. So what can we do about it? Call it out, don’t validate comments by laughing, be clear on workplace boundaries, report, create safe spaces.
 
Create better workplaces, be better employers.

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