Business provides a pathway for positive self-expression

One of the most obvious ways a society reflects the positive role of women is through business.

Each day women everywhere contribute to the successful formation and influence of businesses across a variety of different strands from the self-employed to company leadership. In recent years the huge strides women have made in business has come about primarily as a result of women taking ownership of their talents and applying them in a manner that best represents their core strengths. This is a vastly different scenario to that which prevailed in the past when women tended to be directed to where others felt their talents lay.

Through the medium of business, women discover the confidence and space to make positive changes in the community, workplace, and areas of recreation and the home. The business environment has created a more holistic method of self-expression that produces a natural equality based on one’s own ability.

But it would be overly simplistic to suggest there’s a one size fits all aspect to opportunity between genders. Issues of discrimination are in constant need of redress - particularly the latent kind that occurs without a person being consciously aware of discriminatory acts.

The aim of the National Women’s Strategy envisages a climate where all women enjoy equality with men and achieve their full potential, while also enjoying a safe and fulfilling life. Such an ambition has an air of disbelief in the 21st century, but old prejudices don’t dissolve as quickly as one might expect.

Achieving this vision sees a number of strategies grouped under three key themes: equalising socio-economic opportunity for women; ensuring the well-being of women; and engaging women as equal and active citizens.

A 2016 study by Morgan-McKinley found that the average gender pay gap in Ireland stood at 20%. On average, men working in like for like professional jobs earned €12,000 more than women. The figures were calculated based on average salary and bonus and when these two are split, the average salary gap was 16 percent, while the bonus gap goes up as high as 50 percent.

Pay is just one aspect of inequality, however, and there’s many more cases that occur along the lines of personal discrimination, such as maternity leave, etc. Knowing there are statutory entitlements to the latter doesn’t necessarily prevent the sort of constructive discrimination surrounding such issues.

But it’s worth noting also that responsibility for gender equality often rests with men AND women.