Off-Ramps and On-Ramps

10

Combating Stigma and Stereotypes

Corporate cultures are rife with stigma and stereotypes. Despite the fact that these barriers exist in the realm of the “intangible” and are hard to tease out and identify, they can have an extremely pernicious effect—forcing women off-ramp and stalling progress for many of those who stay in their careers.

Stigma—defined as a mark of shame, stain, or reproach—often leads to marginalization in the contemporary workplace.¹ This term perfectly describes the invisible and unspoken, yet palpably negative, aura that attaches to nonstandard work arrangements—particularly flexible work arrangements.

Where does stigma come from? It is inextricably linked to stereotypes—in this case, gender stereotypes that reflect ...