How women in advertising can reduce gender discrimination at agencies

In “The Woman King,” Viola Davis stars as a general in the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey—located within present-day Benin—from the 17th to 19th centuries. Davis’ character is a force of nature both physically and mentally—like the actress herself—who is charged with training the next generation of female warriors.

On Sept.18, only a few days after the release of “The Woman King,” the United Nations marked International Equal Pay Day, representing its longstanding support for equal pay for work of equal value. The UN noted that women still earn 77 cents for every dollar that men earn for work of equal value. The gap is wider for women with children.

I guess even being “The Woman King” has its limitations.

Which led me to ask: Does the advertising industry have to address issues such as work/life balance and stand up for women's rights in tangible ways? The answer is a resounding yes. Despite coming a long way since the 1980s, when I came up in the business, there is still work to do to create a level playing field for all.

The pandemic is a reminder that professional women shoulder more of the traditional roles in family life while still having to handle work responsibilities. That is something agencies need to recognize—and the best way for change to happen is to put more women in charge and to pay them the same as their male counterparts.

Additionally, advertising trade organizations need to take a more proactive role and set the standards for equitable programs for women. They might generate numerous op-eds about why this is an important issue, but at this point, we need more tangible results. Agencies pay these organizations to represent them. They should do more to represent the interests of not just women, but all of those marginalized in the workplace.

Solutions for big issues like these don’t lie only with employers or trade groups. It is also the responsibility of the individual employees to demonstrate that they can perform and excel while still maintaining work/life balance.

Women in the workplace as often described as “fearless”—but that term is rarely applied to men. Why? In my experience, it is because men rarely ask—they just do, for better or worse. It’s a mindset difference and one that women need to adopt. Being fearless means knowing you are in control, that you can uphold your responsibilities at work and live your life without compromising the things that are important to you.

Here are other ways that women can create a better work-life balance:

Be transparent

Say why something is important to you and stand your ground. Some things are not up for negotiation.

Offer solutions

Work is easier when everyone has an understanding of and agrees to the decisions being made.

Develop relationships

Develop relationships with your boss, your colleagues and your clients so they understand your values and what’s important to you. This is key for those times when you want and need flexibility. It also makes you human and it’s equally important to recognize they are all human too. When you relate with empathy, you will be surprised at how easy all these types of conversations become.

Take a class in negotiating

Learning how to get someone to yes when they initially say no is invaluable. Those strategies will prove useful when you are in tough conversations about your career.

Make female co-workers allies, not competition

By getting more support within your organization you can as a group you can have a greater impact on work/life balance.

Focus on workplace contributions

Share things you are also managing at home. Men are great at that, but women tend not to talk about home lives because they fear it will look weak—but it is actually our strength. Don’t be shy about sharing. It lets everyone know you have a life too.

Network

Connect with female mentors in leadership roles regardless of whether they are at your company and seek their advice.

Ask questions

Before you take that new job find out how many women are in leadership positions. Does the company offer a mentorship program? Are women leading significant businesses at the agency? The answers can be telling about just how progressive an agency is when it comes to female leadership.

Working in advertising should be fun and stimulating and your experiences in life should inform your work and make you a better professional.