Tools for breaking the bias towards women

During & Beyond Women’s History Month

This March, in celebration of women’s history month, I’d like to echo the mission and sentiment of the organization International Women’s Day: Break the Bias. I share the following excerpt from their campaign:

Imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together we can forge women’s equality.

Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Let’s explore how we can inspire leadership in others, become more inspired leaders ourselves, and break biases against women to foster inclusion and belonging at home, work, and play.

Creating Brave Space

Talking about biases and inequality is not always easy, even with the people in our lives we are closest with. Having these conversations requires a willingness to actively listen, to reflect and bring awareness to our own existing biases that may be subconscious, to show up and engage with vulnerability, and a willingness to be ‘exposed’ for our weaknesses. Poet and author Micky ScottBey Jones emphe the importance of creating a brave space to elevate our conversations around forging equity for women, people of color, and minority groups.

An Invitation to Brave Space

Together we will create a brave space.
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space” —
We exist in the real world.
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know. We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be.
But
It will be our brave space together,
and
We will work on it side by side.

by Micky ScottBey Jones

In making this commitment to creating a brave space, we are agreeing to step out of our comfort zone with a wiliness to learn, grow, and hear new ideas.

Sharing Your Experiences — Good and Bad — in Community

In the words of Jeffrey Bussgang and Jono Bacon, human beings “fundamentally crave a sense of connectedness, belonging, mission, and meaning.” I encourage you to celebrate international women’s day with your community. We offer this activity as a way to gather and take a moment to recognize and celebrate the women in your life and those that have come before you.

1. Reflect on the women in your life. Write down the names of those who have had a profound impact on your life. At least 3 women who impacted you during childhood, 3 during adolescence, and 3 during your adult life. What made her/their impact so profound?

2. Take the list of at least 9 women on your list, and reflect on what role did each woman played in your life. Here are a few examples:

· Mentor, Coach

· Friend

· Family Member, Caretaker, Guardian

· Lover, Partner

· Doctor, Therapist

3. Choose a woman to focus on, and write down one experience or interaction with this person that illuminates her/their qualities and the positive impact she/they has had on you. Share this story with your group.

On this international women’s day, I hope that you feel the power of the women that make this world a better place. Harness the collective energy of women around you to elevate the conversations you are having around bias with your community, to inspire you as a leader, and to inspire others as leaders.