Opinion: We Need to Take Women Seriously at Work

Gender inequality has always struck hard for women in a male-dominated work environment — it has now been accepted as an everyday reality.

Women have always been instructed to act, dress and speak a certain way when it comes to their male coworkers at work. Women can’t show too much skin, short skirts are not appropriate to wear, nails should be done and women should look fit.

Recently, the Huffington Post reported that 30 female executives at Ernst & Young had to undergo Power-Presence-Purpose training during the rise of the Me Too movement.

The training was framed as an empowering course for women, but ended up actually ended up being the opposite, instructing women on how to change themselves to fit into a male-dominated workplace.

Topics covered included telling women how to dress and when they should speak during meetings.

This news is discouraging, but some companies are working to fight this industry standard.

Marriott International is diverse and inclusive. Women-owned business enterprises make up 10% of Marriott’s supply chain and LGBT inclusion is a top priority as well. On the HRC’s 2016 Corporate Equality Index, they received Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

The first company to adopt a laid-back corporate culture was Google. Their 10 principle philosophies are you can be serious without a suit. The dress code is casual and fun. Their employees can enjoy ping pong, video games, and massage chairs at work.

Not all companies have strict dress codes because some companies make it fun and creative for women to embrace themselves and work to get further in the company. A lot of companies are empowering women to step up and take charge. They hire more women workers as well.

Women shouldn’t have to act and behave a certain way towards their male coworkers. Women have just as many rights as men and it shouldn’t be one way.