HOW TO FIND YOUR VOICE AND MAKE YOURSELF HEARD

Nearly all of us get talked over by a man at some point, whether it’s at work or in our own home. Emma says women need to make their voices louder in order to be noted

Recently, I heard actress Reese Witherspoon give a speech about the inequality that women face in the film industry. She reflected on the line that you hear time and time again in blockbuster movies, where a woman turns to a man and says, “What are we going to do now?” For most women reading this, that line is laugh-out-loud funny, because when there is a problem, it’s women who tend to provide the solutions. And not just in movies.

PUSH FOR YOUR NEEDS

Like it or not, even in 2018, women are struggling to be heard – and we’re still fighting for equality. Overall, women earn less than men, are stereotypically expected to do most of the housework and are more likely to give up their careers to take care of their kids. You can’t help feeling that, no matter how hard you try, you still have to try harder than the men around you. Even at home, women sometimes feel this gender bias. How many of us feel like it is our “job” to do the shopping and cooking?

DON’T BE A DOORMAT

Similarly, it’s fairly common for women to be treated as though their opinions are somehow less important than a man’s. That’s where the term “mansplaining” came from – where men assume they know more simply because they are male, and patronise women. In fact, a famous cartoon of a man and woman at dinner went viral, where the man was saying “Let me interrupt your expertise with my confidence”. Sound familiar? Once you’re aware of it, you see it everywhere.

SPEAK UP

My motto is simple: if those around you don’t seem to be able to “hear” your points of view, learn to make them louder. You can’t allow your views to go unnoticed, because that makes you invisible, and if you feel invisible, you will lose your confidence. It takes courage to demand respect, but it also ensures that you get taken seriously. Politely say, “I hadn’t finished my point” or “Would you let me finish, please?” Make sure that your needs are met, and that no one gets in the way of that!