International Women’s Day: how gender equality advances all of us
Alex, Tara and Meena from Aire discuss why matching intention with action is fundamental in our drive towards a more balanced workplace.
At the current rate of change, none of us stand to see true gender parity in our lifetimes. And while almost half of today’s workforce are female, when it comes to technology, the numbers tumble to just 19%.
Over to our panel — brought together to mark International Women’s Day:
- What progress towards gender equality have you seen since you began your career?
Tara: When I first started working, flexibility in the tech industry was difficult to find and very much at the discretion of the employer. Today, it’s more commonplace. Childcare commitments for both men and women have normalised and this has a massive impact on women choosing to take career breaks and then return to work.
‘Greater flexibility in how women work has resulted in more senior role models in the workplace, which increases the ability of women in the tech industry.’
Meena: I’ve seen a definite shift in language in recent years — topics that were initially biased towards women have become more neutral. More diverse representation at conferences has also been a huge change that I’ve seen, both in terms of attendees but importantly as speakers too.
2. What role can Aire play in advancing gender equality?
Alex: The impact our brand can have in reinforcing our approach to gender equality is significant. Balance across the voices who represent Aire is important. We choose to showcase as many of our team as possible to remind everyone of the underlying importance diversity brings to our mission at Aire.
‘We’re highly intentional in how we show balance within the brand, for example, through our imagery. These are small interactions that build a cumulative impression of the things we value at Aire to the outside world.’
Tara: We know that showing a range of voices is also important for attracting new candidates. We’ve recently revised our job descriptions to make sure we’re using gender neutral language within our Engineering roles to appeal equally within our hiring process.
This kind of awareness around the impact of language is mirrored in the building of our product too — we’re mindful in how we gather information from consumers from the outset.
3. How can men contribute?
Meena: Talking openly in the workplace to normalise traditional activities that have in the past been seen as one gender’s role is helpful. For example, it’s important for everyone to be able to bring their childcare challenges to work. Whether it’s putting the children to bed, caring for a sick child or taking regular time out for the school run, openness rather than guilt around these activities is crucial.
‘We all benefit from diversity and inclusion at work. When we have it, it makes everyone feel safe.’
Alex: We shouldn’t assume that men have equality at work and women don’t. There are areas, such as parental leave, where men and women are by default treated differently and where employers can work harder to offer fairer outcomes. Greater, more sustained equality is absolutely something that both men and women stand to benefit from.
4. What advice would you give to women beginning a career in technology?
‘If you choose to become a mother, do not let guilt get in the way of your progress.’
Tara: Never forget the positive impact your working career has on your children. You’re a role model for them and they’ll grow up being proud of what you’ve achieved.
Meena: You might want to slow down at times, but you can always take that break and accelerate in the future. Remember that your career is your journey — go at a pace that suits you.
Today at Aire, a quarter of our team are women. We, like many others, have further to go. It’s a commitment we take seriously and with urgency. In order to make our mission of providing equitable access to credit a reality for consumers, our product must be built with these same inputs. Ultimately equality, at all levels, delivers fairer outcomes for everyone.
For more on this topic, read Tara’s letter to our future female software engineers here.
This blog is a summary of a live panel discussion that took place at Aire’s last Mission Update — our monthly, company-wide gathering. Find out more about life at Aire here.
