Dialogue must to end gender inequality
Attracting and retaining talent has long been cited as one of the key drivers that will determine the success of the UAE’s mission to transform into a thriving knowledge-based economy. The UAE has, to date, been a leader in the region in recognising the important role that women must play if such ambitious goals are to be achieved. This has been reflected in the nation’s legislation which protects and advances women’s rights in the workplace, including the introduction of laws around equal pay, nursing breaks for working mothers and paid maternity leave.
Whilst the UAE government has indeed been exemplary in driving gender equality, challenges continue to exist in the country — as they do in all nations on earth. This age-old problem is not one that can be solved by governments alone, and although great strides have been made in recent years to further reduce the prevalence of gender disparity in the workplace, we still have a long way to go before women are equally represented across all industries and at every level of seniority.
There are certain industries where gender inequality is particularly noticeable and certain industries that have, historically, been male-dominated. Real estate is one such industry. It is difficult to understand all of the factors that contribute to such a bias, and when considering how best to address such challenges, it becomes apparent that we are dealing with a chicken-andegg scenario. Do we encourage more women to take on roles within these industries, which in turn will guide the evolution away from a male-oriented culture? Or, is it a matter of collectively working to change workplace cultures, mindsets and stereotypes to ensure that women feel comfortable and are able to thrive in all working environments?
Gender inequality is often seen as a ‘female problem’, and yet, it is a challenge that both women and men are faced with. As such, gender equality is not an issue that can be addressed in silos. It is only when men and women come together to openly discuss challenges, that progression is truly within reach. We must collectively ensure that younger generations of women understand the challenges faced by the generations gone by, appreciate how far we have come as a society and feel empowered to continue to pursue change. The UAE boasts a large number of talented women in leadership roles across a number of sectors, and it is the responsibility of these women to act as role models to younger women, to inspire them and ensure they can access the training and development opportunities required to succeed. Meanwhile, it is important for men at every level to recognise how indespensible women are to organisations and to the strength of their teams.
The UAE recognises the importance of women to the nation’s continued development, and through its annual Women’s Day initiatives, demonstrates its appreciation of the nation’s talented women, who are paving the way in a variety of industries including aviation, energy, space research and manufacturing.
Although individual companies and even nations are making inroads, globally we are not yet there. Women are still underrepresented in leadership roles, and they also continue to be paid less than men on the whole. The UAE and its drive to end gender inequality is crucial, but the government alone cannot overturn stereotypes that have been entrenched in our collective consciousness for millennia.
Gender equality is not an issue that can be addressed in silos. It is only when men and women come together to openly discuss challenges, that progression is truly within reach