This episode is the fifth in the Series on Navigating the Male Dominated Fields of Procurement & Supply Chain.
In the prior episodes we talked about:
- the different ways unconscious biases can show up in the workplace
- the “double-whammy” that women in the functions encounter
- how you can be your authentic self and still get the job done
- why women fear failure more than men
If you missed any of the prior episodes you can access them on my website at PowerYourImpact.com.
Today we are going to talk about why women don’t share their unconscious bias experiences with their women peers. Find the show notes on my website at PowerYourImpact.com/6.
In Episode 1, I shared the research work that I conducted in order to understand the common goals and challenges that women in the Function face. Once I had identified the common themes I rounded back with each of the interviewees and shared the results.
There was a sense of relief from many of the women when they learned that 100% of the interviewees identified unconscious bias as a challenge.
Many of the women were relieved to learn that they were not the only ones who had these experiences.
It was clear to me that these women had not shared their experiences with other peer women before.
And then it dawned on me, even I had never shared my experiences with my women peers.
But why? Why don’t women share their unconscious bias encounters with other women in the Function?
When I asked this question I learned that these women didn’t want to be perceived as complainers. They described their experience as “minor” incidents.
What defines a major versus a minor experience?
If the experience made you uncomfortable shouldn’t that be the trigger that deems it unacceptable?
I recall a personal experience where a male manager notified me that I was not going to be assigned a project that I had requested because a male peer had more technical experience.
I couldn’t disagree with this as it was a fact. Before I could respond however, the manager the said that I should deal with any emotions I have about this news before we discuss it further.
I couldn’t believe what I had just heard and promptly left his office.
I played that statement over in my mind for days. Would he have said that to a male?
I never shared this experience with anyone. Instead I replayed it for days.
I invite you to reflect on your own experiences with unconscious bias and ask yourself what feelings the encounter conjured up in you.
Might you have benefited from sharing your experiences with your women peers?
It’s time to reverse the stereotype that women don’t support other women.
Traditionally we have been taught to be competitive with one another because there are so few jobs at the top.
The truth is that by engaging with your women peers, by channeling the power of collaboration, you can change the equation.
If you begin to build connections with other women and share experiences imagine the impact you can have collectively.
There is power in relationships.
