Corporations Compassion Culture

Chapter 6Gender Equity and Company Growth

Society generalizes women as inherently more compassionate than men. Consequently, women are labeled as “too compassionate to succeed” in an intense corporate environment. When women demonstrate leadership and decision-making styles that differ from the dominant male culture, they are often criticized and made to feel less than their male counterparts. These prejudiced actions, along with the erroneous thinking behind them, influence the way women are paid, promoted, and treated within the business world.

This chapter discusses various challenges related to gender inequity within the workforce, including these issues:

• The pay gap
• Glass ceiling or labyrinth?
• Intersectionality of race and gender
• Expanding diversity initiatives to include women of color
• Women CEOs building compassionate cultures
• Pros and cons of quotas
• Importance of mentorship and sponsorship
• Impact of #MeToo and #TimesUp movements
• Dangers of neglecting allyship
• Economic and reputational benefits of compassionate leadership

The Pay Gap

Gender inequality is deeply embedded in the business world, which is why pay parity and inclusive treatment must be part of any compassionate and equitable workplace. According to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings within the United States, women earned 85% of what men earned in 2018. Though this represents a narrowing of pay disparities since 1980, the gender pay gap has remained relatively consistent over the ...