Since Emily Pankhurst and the rest of the suffragettes fought for the right to vote, gender equality has been an ongoing process. We have been celebrating International Women’s Day since the seventies officially but, the inspiration for the dates back to 1908. This was when women marched through New York City in the hopes of achieving equal pay and status. However, despite significant shifts towards inclusion and equality, it remains that women are still paid less, work longer hours, and are more likely to be lower-paid jobs. With International Women’s Day just behind us (8th March), we decided to examine the inequalities faced by women in business in Northern Ireland, and the organisations that aim to address the disparity. Oh, and before you ask its 19th November!
Over the weekend, the Police Service of Northern Ireland hit the headlines when their IWD initiative that asked female officers to nominate a male officer who deserved accreditation, with the #EachforEqual campaign. The post soon went viral, with people across the web criticising the focus on male achievement and questioning as to whether this was a relevant campaign that was in keeping with the message behind the day. Chief Superintendent Emma Bond has since responded, proposing the initiative was ‘in line with this year’s theme’ of gender equality being everyone’s responsibility. It remains that with over 70% of male staff, the PSNI have a responsibility to recruit more women. Also, for IWD, thousands of people took to the streets of Belfast to march. Intending to recognise the importance of gender equality, the rally marked the start of a month-long programme of events in the Capital that aim to celebrate women and highlight that what remains to be lacking.
Getting a job is a gamble, and just like an online live casino, luck plays an important role. We have all heard the adage about it not being what you know but who you know and we are aware of how difficult to succeed in some fields. Achieving gender equality in business is just one step to achieving a world in which someone’s suitability for a position is judged solely on their merits, skills and experiences. Yet there continues to be significant inequality. It remains that that only three of the top firms in Northern Ireland are run by women, and women have often been disproportionately represented amongst statistics regarding entrepreneurs and start-ups.
With over 60 networking events over the year as well as access to 3,000 members, the Women in Business organisation aim to empower women to succeed. It is the largest and fastest-growing business support network of its kind; supporting female entrepreneurs, with mentoring, coaching, Masterclasses and Business Insights as well as support programmes such as Yes You Can and annual awards. In 2019, Allstate Northern Ireland took home several of the key awards and there were a record 185 entries submitted.
Much of the discourse surrounding contemporary feminism has muddied up and confused the key message of the importance of achieving a society where everyone has a choice about how they live. The term has taken a bit of a backlash in recent years, but it is increasingly recognised that promoting women in business and ensuring equality can have a significant benefit on the overall economy of the country. If you are thinking about setting up a business, check out the various membership options available at the Women in Business NI website. Local councils also run campaigns to get more women into business, and you should also see what is available in your local area.
