Being a Woman in the Modern Workplace
In light of International Women’s Day, it’s important to celebrate the great successes made by women at work every day; but it’s also essential to acknowledge the struggles that women face in the modern workplace. From more well-known issues such as the gender pay-gap and gender stereotypes, to topics that are less spoken of, like worries about job security and lack of health support.
Being a Woman in the Modern Workplace

Double standards

Although we live in a progressive society, and of course the treatment of women at work has come a long way in the past few decades, there are still outdated gender stereotypes that affect women on a daily basis in the modern workplace. Recent research has found that women are 66 times more likely to receive negative feedback in performance reviews for things such being too ‘abrasive’ or ‘aggressive’. When women are assertive and stand up for themselves at work, they are seen as rude or bossy, compared to men who are viewed as confident or as having good leadership skills. It’s an unfair double standard that women face far too commonly at work. These stereotypes have the power to inhibit how far women can progress in their careers and are often forgotten about or ignored in place of bigger issues.

Women also face a double standard when it comes to their career after having children. Men are half as likely to worry about their job security after becoming a parent, and 23% of working mothers feel that they have been left out of being promoted due to requesting more flexible hours around childcare.

The Gender Health Gap

In recent years, researchers have become more aware of a ‘gender health gap’, with a government survey recently finding that there is a lack of support for those going through problems such as miscarriage, infertility, or menopause. Only 12% of women reported that they had received time off after having a miscarriage before the 24-week mark, despite the fact that this can cause detrimental effects to physical and mental health, as well as personal relationships. Women who undertake IVF treatment to have a baby also say that they aren’t taken as seriously as they should be, with most bosses seeing it as a lifestyle choice rather than a stressful, expensive, and often last resort for those struggling to get pregnant. Without measures in place to support those going through reproductive health issues, both employees and businesses suffer, with 14 million workdays being lost a year to menopause symptoms. Companies have a duty to recognise these issues and assist their staff by providing mental health support and adequate time off for recovery.
Here at Brite Recruitment, we are a group of strong and talented women who are all unique in our own ways; what brings us together is our passion to provide a bespoke recruitment service. Contact our friendly team now if you are hiring or looking for new job!
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