Work It: Where do women work?

Summary

The forum 'Work It, Whip It' explores the challenges women face with gender bias in the workplace. Hosted by Anna P. Santos and co-host Nikki Luna, the event highlights the intersection of gender justice and economic empowerment. Key discussions include industries dominated by women, like travel and tourism, and those by men, such as marine and oil sectors. CEO Maria Ressa emphasizes the global impact of conversations on gender equality and invites active participation through social media. The forum aims to spark global change through shared stories and collective action on gender bias in work environments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women still face gender biases in the workplace, which is a core issue addressed in the forum.
• 😀 The forum is focused on the intersection of gender justice and economic empowerment as essential to women’s overall empowerment.
• 😀 The forum allows audience interaction through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #whipit.
• 😀 Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler, emphasizes the importance of conversations around gender bias to spark global change.
• 😀 The Whipit campaign's impact spread globally, evidenced by the rise in mentions on social media after its launch.
• 😀 The global conversation reached far beyond the Philippines, with significant engagement in the U.S. sparked by Cheryl Sandberg’s involvement.
• 😀 Infographics presented at the forum show the industries dominated by women, with 81% of women working in the travel and tourism industry.
• 😀 Gender bias in certain industries, like travel and tourism, is often linked to physical attributes and personality traits that women are expected to possess.
• 😀 Women are increasingly employed in call centers, breaking time constraints and working 24-hour shifts, providing more opportunities for women in this sector.
• 😀 While some industries like telecommunications, law, and research show gender balance, others such as architecture and marine industries are still predominantly male-dominated.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the forum discussed in the transcript?

The main focus of the forum is addressing gender biases and job insecurity, particularly examining whether women still encounter gender biases in the workplace.

How does Nikki Luna describe the evolution of the discussions on gender biases?

Nikki Luna notes that in previous discussions, gender biases and stereotypes were only touched on briefly, but now the forum will focus more on women and work, highlighting the connection between gender justice and economic empowerment.

Why is the forum particularly focusing on women and work?

The forum is focusing on women and work because gender justice and economic empowerment are crucial for women's overall empowerment. These two elements are intertwined, and addressing them is essential for achieving gender equality.

How can the audience participate in the forum?

The audience can participate by tweeting, posting on Facebook, or sending in their questions and comments with the hashtag #whipit.

What is the significance of the last Whipit campaign's global reach?

The last Whipit campaign saw significant global attention, with mentions spiking after Facebook COO Cheryl Sandberg shared it. This highlights the power of social media and the ripple effect conversations about gender bias can have globally.

What is the impact of having conversations about gender bias, according to Maria Ressa?

Maria Ressa emphasizes that talking about gender bias is the first step toward taking action. Conversations like these can spread globally and create a ripple effect that leads to real change.

What was the finding about the industries dominated by women in the infographic presented?

The infographic showed that 81% of women work in the travel or tourism industry, where physical attributes and a pleasing personality are often required, which highlights the gender bias in job requirements.

What industries were identified as being predominantly female-dominated in the infographic?

Industries dominated by women include travel or tourism, nonprofit organizations, social services, and call centers or BPOs, where women make up a significant portion of the workforce.

What industries were identified as predominantly male-dominated in the infographic?

Industries dominated by men include marine and aquaculture, oil and gas, repair and maintenance, and electrical and electronics, which are typically labor-intensive sectors requiring physical work.

What is the significance of the data showing women’s participation in the BPO sector?

The data shows that women have made significant strides in the BPO sector, where they are now allowed to work beyond 10 p.m., which marks a breakthrough in providing more opportunities for women in industries previously constrained by time limits.