Women in industry awards

[Flamglimglubberty]

I came across the attached on LinkedIn today - posted by a woman. All the comments so far seem to be in support of this stance and are overwhelming from men. I wanted to get the boards opinion on it.

Personally I think it would be wonderful for women to be judged and awarded fairly against their male colleagues, but in reality we just know this doesn't happen. Some industries are still so male dominated that if it weren't for these type of awards you'd be hard pressed to be able to name a women in that particular field.

I think it's sad that we need to have our own category in order to be recognised, but the solution is most definitely not to remove these awards altogether.

There are all sorts of awards and initiatives for people who are in minorities in those roles aren't there? Abolish such awards when they're unnecessary by virtue of the glass ceiling being shattered etc.

Errr... my industry has both BAME and LGBTQI+ awards as well, so this is based on a complete misapprehension. I understand the sentiment but it's missing the point - celebrating individuals who don't fit the "pattern" and ensuring they are visible in the sea of straight white men.

White men are so frequently represented across awards for their profession or sector, women don't get a look-in.
Women just aren't considered unless they have their own platform.
Often minority candidates just aren't considered for awards unless in distinct bracket of their own.
For BAME candidates in my sector there is
bamehscawards.org/

When there’s equality these things will be unnecessary.

All the evidence shows UK is a long, long way from that.

Whilst some of these awards ceremonies are cringeworthy (too many photos of a young woman alongside an older man letching), the basic premise of celebrating women's achievement especially in historically male dominated professions should continue.

I worked in the oil industry. Most of us (women) werent interested in women in industry awards. We were interested in getting the same recognition when compared to men, not just women.

But there is affirmative action for BAME etc.

Would they remove that as well? I’m guessing no?

www.ethnicityawards.com/top-100-2020/
www.thebbbawards.com/
bamehscawards.org/
www.green-park.co.uk/insights/bame-100-business-leaders-2019/s56145/

I think when people complain about this they haven’t fully appreciated the scale of disadvantage.

Also, if you are one of the exceptional women in your field, it’s easy to see why you’d want to be recognised alongside your male peers, however it is not just about you, it is also to raise visibility and achievements of women to all other women working in your field.

@everythingthelighttouches

I think when people complain about this they haven’t fully appreciated the scale of disadvantage.

Also, if you are one of the exceptional women in your field, it’s easy to see why you’d want to be recognised alongside your male peers, however it is not just about you, it is also to raise visibility and achievements of women to all other women working in your field.

That's an excellent graphic, I'm saving that for future use!

You're absolutely correct regarding it being about other women too. I hadn't considered this. These types of award are absolutely crucial for less prominent women in the same field - they provide a platform to show what can be achieved in able dominated industries, and highlight potential role models. By all means we should 100% keep pushing for the recognition we deserve in the more mainstream and male dominated awards, but at the same time women in industry awards provide a critical service and amplify women's voices.

@Wondermule

But there is affirmative action for BAME etc.

Would they remove that as well? I’m guessing no?

I highly doubt it, although I think some of the men in the comments may be that way inclined.

Affirmative action is not a bad thing when done properly. It absolutely serves a crucial purpose

I wonder what they'd make of Helen Mountfield's embedded challenge and perspective on addressing patterns of advantage in as far as she can as the Head of Oxford's Mansfield College.

"Denying that it was social engineering, she recalled how she had once discussed with a judge positive discrimination for female lawyers wanting to join the bench. “He said, ‘You know, I think it would be dreadful for women. They would feel they were only there because they were women.’ And I said to him, ‘Does it undermine your self-confidence that you’re a white man? Do you ever think, maybe I’m only a judge because I’m a white man and if I was a woman I wouldn’t be here?’”"

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/state-pupils-flock-to-oxford-college-and-degree-results-soar-q96p7bxj0 - or to read it

www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/files/inline-files/The%20Sunday%20Times,%2016%20February%202020_3.pdf

@Dozer

When there’s equality these things will be unnecessary.

All the evidence shows UK is a long, long way from that.

From Arrianna Planey.

When someone manages to rise up through our hobbled alleged meritocracy and is crowned the first to hold a position, I know that does not mean that they were the only one who possibly could.

I’d assumed everyone understood this, but it has become clear to me in the last few years, as these news of firsts in media and publishing and film and sports came rolling in, as people wrote and agonized over what felt like a shift in culture, that that was naive. People in power, the ones doing the crowning, generally believe that there is no one else qualified until they happen to decide to bestow the crown. It’s easier that way, isn’t it? To think that the first happened just because the right person finally managed to emerge and break through, and not because there was a whole system put in place to make sure no one who looks a certain way or comes from a particular background ever has a chance to do so in the first place. I am reminded of a Chris Rock quote, one he gave during Barack Obama’s second term as president. “To say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first Black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not Black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been Black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years.

twitter.com/Arrianna_Planey/status/1318978028152737793