Diversity Woman Magazine

FALL 2015

Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds

Issue link: https://diversitywoman.epubxp.com/i/579568

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 65 of 67

64 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N Fa l l 2 0 1 5 d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m Conversations with Catalyst I s there any doubt that Serena Williams is a world-class athlete and one of the best women ten- nis players ever? Tis summer she won her 21st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. Yet in spite of her prowess as an athlete (or perhaps because of it), Williams has faced merciless body-shaming from the press. She's been criticized for being too "masculine," too "muscular," and even too "fat." While female athletes typically face more scrutiny of their appearance than male athletes, Williams has faced much harsher criticism than even that aimed at her white female peers. Sponsors, the tennis world, and the public at large do not value her as she deserves to be valued: for her accomplishments, not for her subjec- tively assessed physical appearance. Such shaming is just one example of the intersection of various forms of oppression that so many women of color experience. In other words, Williams is under more professional and social pressure than either men of color or white women. Tis isn't just a matter of self-esteem. For failing to conform to racist and sexist expectations of her physical appearance, Williams sufers a serious fnancial penalty in the form of lost endorsements. She has beaten Maria Sharapova 18 times. Yet Sharapova, a conventionally pretty white woman, outearns Williams by $5.1 million per year in endorsement deals. How is this relevant to women of color who work in corporations? What happens in society at large refects underlying as- sumptions about race, gender, and other diferences. What is freely shouted in the public sphere may only be whispered in more decorous environments. But just because few employees today are comfort- able being openly racist and sexist at work Katherine Giscombe, PhD doesn't mean workplaces are free of racism and sexism. Do the women of color at your organization have to contend with the same type of discrimination that Serena Williams has faced throughout her career? It's likely they've experienced a lack of access to mentors and infuential networks, as well as stereotyping and unconscious biases. Te good news is that you can help change this. Catalyst research shows that inclusive leaders empower their teams to excel, demand accountability, and model courage and humility. If your organization employs leaders like these, it is well on its way to being inclusive. Unfortunately, our research also shows that many organizations face a "culture gap" between the culture employees say they want and the culture that exists. Te nar- rower the gap, the less likely employees are to leave. Companies with narrower culture gaps tend to emphasize integrity, teamwork, and collaboration rather than perfectionism, power, and competition. If you've got it, faunt it. High-function- ing organizations can act as models for their less enlightened peers. One example is an initiative PepsiCo designed to strength- en relationships between women of color and their skip-level supervisors. Tis pro- gram has led to increased representation of women of color in senior positions. If your organization isn't there yet, push senior leadership to get on the ball. Truly including women of color requires the same efort and determination it takes to triumph at a Grand Slam. In the end, women of color and their employers will come out winners. DW Katherine Giscombe, PhD, is Catalyst's Vice President and Women of Color Practitioner, Global Member Services. What is freely shouted in the public sphere may only be whispered in more decorous environments. Point of View > ABOUT CATALYST Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonproft organization expanding op- portunities for women and business. With operations in the United States, Cana- da, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan, and more than 800 member organizations, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work. catalyst.org. Is Your Company Doing to Employees What Pro Sports Are Doing to Serena Williams?

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Diversity Woman Magazine - FALL 2015