|||MAG||| August 30 - Sept 05, 2008

Devious conspiracies, wily tactics and hushed politics all work together to find means to a single end - not to let a woman progress at the workplace. This might be the golden era in which women have proved themselves to be worthy contenders in any field, but they still have to combat the primitive minds that resort to gender bias. Are you also a victim? Margeret Thatcher once rightly said, “If you want anything said, ask a man, if you want anything done, ask a woman.” This might not hold true for all, but most women who work in professional organisations would definitely agree with me - especially those who have been a victim of gender bias. Trading an apron for a suit is a tough ride for many as it marks the ingress to the realm of cut-throat competition, where gender inequalities are entrenched and insecurities dwell. Historically, women had a predefined role in the society - that of a home-maker. As her quest to join the workforce and prove her mettle as a dexterous team-player, who is no less than any man in the field and at times even more productive, bore fruit, she was in for a lot of antagonism. Though she succeeded in overcoming the barriers that held her back from more prestigious occupations, modern society created new obstacles to her complete success and equality in the labour force. Hence, the glass ceiling emerged that only a few managed to break. A few years ago an opportunity for further career development knocked on my door, when our organization planned to send a couple of deserving employees to foreign shores for further training. I was considered to be the most suitable candidate but my male colleagues thought otherwise. It was conveniently assumed that since I was married with kids, I might not be able to travel abroad and concentrate on such an intensive training. I soon realized that those with whom I had shared the most cordial working relationship all these years were actually the ones who couldn't see a woman progress professionally or gain a position that they ironically considered themselves to be the natural successors to. The experience made me wonder what firms actually look for in a female employee if her work alone is not enough leverage to give her career a boost. Only recently, I went through an advertisement in the newspaper that stated, “Secretary required. Smart and energetic with presentable personality.” There was no clue as to what qualifications or skills are required by the company for the position. I called at the phone number mentioned at the bottom only to find out that it was some real estate firm that required a secretary, cum receptionist, seemingly more for the entertainment value of their customers rather than performing the necessary tasks. Hence no specific qualifications were required. I further got an inkling of the psyche that prevails in the society when I had a heated discussion with M. Sualeh, a seemingly respected entrepreneur in the garments business for the last twenty years. When asked as to why he has employed a female in his front office when the nature of his work, the locality from where he operates and the customers he deals with do not require her services, he replied, “A secretary shuffling around in the office gives it a soft look. It adds colour to one's premises. She tends to the office and clientele and is a great help.” A tête-à-tête with the girl revealed that her job entailed a lot more as she said, “I have been working in this organization since the past couple of years. I tend to guests, answer queries, oversee junior staff, fib for my boss, as and when required, and have to stay late when there is work.” This made me wonder, do we still live in the dark ages where women are only confined to menial tasks and are considered to be a source of entertainment or are part of the office interior that gives it a 'soft look'? Gender bias is a norm in our society no matter to which strata one belongs to. The Global Gender Gap (GGG) Report 2007, published each year by the World Economic Forum further proves this fact as it states that only 2% of educated females reach the position of a senior official, manager or legislator in Pakistan. Although in the past few years the country has done well as far as the participation of women on the political platform is concerned, as it stands at 43 among 128 countries, the female economic participation is very weak. In this arena, Pakistan stands at number 126, presenting a very dismal scenario. Delineating the reason for such an outcome Fawzia Kazim, GM and Chief Executive at an oil and gas company said, “Women are made to feel guilty about everything they do away from home no matter how hardworking and committed they are to both their families and workplace.” There is no denying the fact that when a woman leaves her house for work, she is very clear in her mind as to what she wants. She is committed, responsible and at times much more hard working than men but her work potential is seldom acknowledged. Those who do take notice shun her abilities whenever the opportunity for further progress arises. Flared up egos, that cannot accept a female boss, try their level best to hinder her ascent. Conniving minds work overtime, indulging in politics and trying underhand tactics to nip her success in the bud. And if she is married with children and can only give a specific time to the workplace then a thousand reasons could be thought of to achieve this goal. Commenting on the same, Marium Paracha, head of corporate communications in a foreign bank said, “A woman has to understand that she lives in a patriarchal society. She has to be very strong so as not to succumb to pressure. Politics prevails in every set up. I shut my eyes and ears and am a staunch believer of the fact that my work will speak for me.” Afia Azeem, a senior manager in a private establishment narrates her experience. “Once an assistant was placed under my vigilant eye so that I could make him learn the ropes. He was older than I was and since day one showed resistance towards accepting orders from a younger female boss. What followed were cheap antics as he started bad-mouthing me and was bent upon creating a feeling of ill-faith among other employees where I was concerned. I knew this assistant could progress a lot only if he would work rather than waste his time in politics. His strategy seemed to work as my colleagues started questioning my efficiency since I only worked part time. I decided to keep mum and concentrate on meeting the deadlines and making the most of the time that I spent in the office. Those were the most agonizing days as I was literally fighting to keep my position.” Another vivid example of gender bias is the fact that most firms, no matter how big or old, do not have any special policies, time relaxation or daycare facilities for working mothers. Sadaf Salman, a former employee at a cyber solution company that hires writers to compose academic papers states that there were stringent regulations for all employees at the company. “The gruelling work schedule made it very difficult for me to manage my time and that affected my efficiency. Later, when I joined a foreign academic paper writing company, I realized that they give ample time to complete a project. I work from home now and am much more productive than I was before.” Another employee at a local bank faces the same problem of being over-worked and stressed out, since most banks do not have time relaxation for female employees. Hence her family suffers. These are just a few examples. There are many companies who would think twice before hiring a woman if she has other commitments, which are also equally important. What they do not realize is that though she might not be able to give eight hours or more to the workplace, she can be far better in time management, have a no-nonsense attitude towards work and whatever time she gives to the office, she does not while it away in idle chat, tea, or even long cigarette breaks. There is a dire need to change the outlook that does not acknowledge the potential of a woman. Policies have to be put in place for married working women and they should be judged not by the hours that they give but by their productivity and work. Coming back to where we started from, that training course was a challenge for me. I had to prove that sending me would not be a waste of money. And that is exactly what I did. After all, we women have a proclivity for work; we don't just talk as otherwise presumed. Combat Gender Bias Effectively Here are some tips from women who made it to the top in various industries, to help steer clear of the negative impact at workplace and make it big. Let your work speak for itself. The management of most companies does not appreciate sycophants, and is well-aware of the worth of its employees. So carve a niche through work rather than being a toady. Establish yourself as a professional. Do not waste time in idle chat or tea breaks. Do not miss deadlines and put your heart in your work. Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay away from colleagues who believe that a woman should only be employed to answer the phone or that men make more effective managers. Have complete faith and confidence in yourself. If that wavers, others would have a better chance to spit their venom. Work on your time management. If you are married, work out your problems at home before starting any job so that you can focus on more important tasks in the office. Discuss any time constraints that you may have with the management beforehand and reach a viable solution possible for both the entities before starting work. Do not indulge in petty politics. Do not unnecessarily comment on your colleague's work or spread negative vibes, rather focus on your own achievements. If you target someone, you can be the victim as well. Be fair in your dealings with others. Don't let your grudges guide you if you are at the helm of affairs.n