Let our daughters shoot for the stars
Despite the big picture being absolutely predictable, the gender pay gap statistics still had the power to shock.
It isn’t just that men are so often being paid more to do the same job as women. It is the fact that so many of the top jobs in companies are held by men.
They earn more and have more power. Ryanair’s mean pay gap is almost 72%. For every £1 that men earn, women earn 33p.
That’s shocking, isn’t it? One of the company’s most highly-paid roles is pilot. And it only has eight female pilots, compared to more than 500 men.
Girls are still not being encouraged that the sky can be the limit – literally – when it comes to careers. Flying planes is traditionally a male domain.
How many little girls are being told to think of a different career, like nursing or teaching? Stereotyping is still a problem.
I was looking at an ad for Playmobil recently. They were aiming a wedding set at little girls, while boys were being directed to a policeman set.
Those differences might not seem a big deal in themselves, but what are they telling our girls when they see them again and again as they’re growing up?
We need to teach girls that unless there is a job which involves a lot of physical strength, they can do any job a man can. And they can do it just as well.
It’s not just about what we teach our girls, though. Some men need to change the way they think.
Unfortunately, an old boys’ network still exists in many industries and there are times men do close ranks and protect their own interests.
I have long been a campaigner for more equality in sport – behind the scenes it’s very male dominated.
The men at the top are finally being forced to listen. With the Time’s Up, #metoo and now #paymetoo campaigns, there’s a real groundswell of support but we have to keep it going.
I often compare females working in sports to snowflakes. There are all unique and individual in their own way but usually float and drift until they hit a wall. And then it’s game over.
But bind all of those snowflakes together and they become a snowball – and snowballs are so much stronger.
That’s what my programme She Rallies is about – empowering and expanding the number of women and girls coaching and playing tennis across the UK.
Of course I’ve come up against sexism in my career.
My last coach qualification course had 20 places on it – 18 going to men and two to women. One of the tutors told me I was lucky to get a place because “we had to turn down a lot of guys”. Cheers, mate.
A lot of women don’t like being around such a male-dominated environment. It’s not easy being in a minority. That’s why we need strength in numbers and that’s why it’s more important than ever for women to help each other.