Are you being treated unfairly at work because of your gender? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Michelle King, the director of inclusion at Netflix. They talk through what to do when you and other women on your team are being marginalized, you’re a man experiencing reverse discrimination, or gender bias is blocking your advancement.
From Alison and Dan’s reading list:
HBR: What Most People Get Wrong About Men and Women by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely — “We do see sex differences in various settings, including the workplace—but those differences are not rooted in fixed gender traits. Rather, they stem from organizational structures, company practices, and patterns of interaction that position men and women differently, creating systematically different experiences for them.”
HBR: To Address Gender Bias at Your Company, Start with Teams by Todd Warner and Michelle King — “Until organizational leaders have the bravery to take a holistic look at diversity and inclusion and understand their true drivers, we’ll be stuck with half-day workshops. And as we all know, a half-day workshop just won’t cut it.”
HBR: How Men Can Become Better Allies to Women by W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith — “But including men in diversity efforts is not as simple as inviting them to a gender-equity event. These efforts often reveal reluctance, if not palpable anxiety among targeted men. Sexism is a system, and while it’s a system that privileges men, it also polices male behavior. Understanding that is important to changing the system.”
HBR: Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer, and They Feel Threatening to White Men by Tessa L. Dover, Brenda Major, and Cheryl R. Kaiser — “We do see sex differences in various settings, including the workplace—but those differences are not rooted in fixed gender traits. Rather, they stem from organizational structures, company practices, and patterns of interaction that position men and women differently, creating systematically different experiences for them.”