Women Empowerment in the Workplace

In this session, Tash explores women’s empowerment in the workplace through an intersectional lens. She highlights common challenges like the gender pay gap and lack of leadership representation, while noting additional barriers faced by Black, Latina, disabled, LGBTQ+, and older women. Microaggressions, such as being interrupted or dismissed, can undermine confidence and career growth. Tash recommends self-advocacy, tracking achievements, negotiating salaries, and building diverse mentor networks. Allies, including men, should recognize intersecting challenges and support inclusive policies. 

During the expert session, Tash Koster-Thomas engages the audience through interactive exercises using the Mentimeter app, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations. 

• Recognizing Intersections of Oppression: Understanding how gender intersects with race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, and other identities is essential for creating inclusive workplaces. 
• Combating Microaggressions: Practicing self-advocacy, building a network of supporters, and pursuing learning opportunities are crucial strategies for overcoming subtle, often unintentional forms of discrimination in the workplace. Speak up for yourself, seek out diverse perspectives, and continuously learn to combat microaggressions and achieve career success.
• Allyship and Empowerment: Everyone can make a difference as an ally by sponsoring individuals, amplifying women's ideas, providing confidential support, and committing to continuous learning. 

In this expert session, speaker Tash explores women’s empowerment in the workplace through an intersectional lens. She notes that while some challenges, such as the gender pay gap and underrepresentation in leadership, affect all women, others are more pronounced for specific groups. For example, Black women earn 63 cents and Latina women 57 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Disabled women hold jobs at lower rates (29% vs. 40% for non-disabled women), and LGBTQ+ women face discrimination and lack of acceptance. Older women may encounter ageism or caregiving-related barriers. Tash stresses that allies should recognize these intersecting challenges and support inclusive policies like equal pay, flexible work, anti-discrimination laws, and diverse leadership.

Tash also discusses workplace microaggressions, such as being interrupted, having ideas dismissed, or being excluded from discussions. These subtle behaviors can undermine women’s confidence and career growth. To combat them, she recommends self-advocacy, tracking achievements, negotiating salaries, and building a diverse support network of mentors and advisers rather than relying on a single mentor.

Allies play a critical role in promoting gender equality. Tash emphasizes self-advocacy, networking, and continuous learning as tools to navigate microaggressions and advance careers. Men can be included in these discussions by acknowledging the pressures they face, such as expectations around breadwinning or flexible work.

During the Q&A, participants raised various issues, including women in the military, work-life boundary challenges with female bosses, and microaggressions from supervisors. Tash advised addressing issues directly, documenting achievements (“brag book”), seeking allies, and using HR policies when necessary. She recommended Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez to understand pervasive gender bias.

The session concluded with Tash encouraging participants to take action toward gender equity and offering her contact information for further resources.

Advancing Gender Equity Through Inclusive Workplace Practices

Inclusive Leadership: Succeeding Across Cultures

Building Inclusive Workplaces: Allyship for Disability and Neurodiversity

Advancing Equity: A Call to Action for Anti-Racism

Intersectionality - Including ALL Women

LGBTQ+ Language & Terminology

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion for Advocates and Allies

Psychological Safety in Action: Creating Safer, Stronger Teams

Why Didn't I Say Something? Speaking Up When It Matters