The FQ Equality News 7.12.19
Happy Friday! This week, we’re examining the current reality of inclusion in the workplace, discussing why 2019 belongs to Shirley Chisholm—and, of course, celebrating the U.S. soccer players who won the World Cup championship for their second year in a row. For more on the latest equality news, scroll down.
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
The state of inclusion in 2019. The good news: Organizations are making progress on advancing inclusion, according to a new report by Deloitte. In fact, 86% of respondents feel like they can be themselves at work most of the time. The not-so-good news: The majority of respondents said they also experience or witness subtle and indirect bias frequently. This “bias barrier,” as Deloitte calls it, has a negative impact on productivity, well-being, and engagement at work. What’s the solution? Fostering an inclusive culture that encourages each individual to embody allyship in everyday interactions.
Source: Deloitte
Honoring Shirley Chisholm. It’s been 14 years since Rep. Shirley Chisholm passed away, but now she’s finally getting her moment—and rightfully so. This year marks the 50th anniversary of her making history as the first black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972, Chisholm became the first black candidate to run for President from a national political party. In honor of her life, Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis is producing and starring in a film about Chisholm called “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm.” Chisholm will also be played by Uzo Aduba in the upcoming TV series, “Mrs. America.” This week, Chisholm State Park, the largest state park in New York City, opened in Brooklyn. And, soon, there will be a statue of Chisholm outside the Parkside entrance to Prospect Park, making her the first female historical figure with a public monument in Brooklyn.
Source: New York Times
Hollywood remakes an old story with a modern twist. Actress and singer Halle Bailey has been cast as the lead in the live-action version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The talented, nineteen-year-old star will play Ariel, the fictional mermaid. The new adaptation is part of a greater effort by Disney to increase on-screen diversity and representation. The other equality news in media: According to Vox, the remake of Mulan, which is coming to theaters in March 2020, will be more of a feminist action movie than a musical. And, as National Geographic recently confirmed, Simba’s mom would be running the pride if Lion King were realistic.
Source: Fortune
Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers praise to Brett Kavanaugh. The Supreme Court justice and feminist icon, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (aka the “Notorious RBG”) spoke out this week at Georgetown Law School. Ginsburg gave Brett Kavanaugh credit for appointing an entirely all-female staff and shared more about her personal history in the fight for gender equality. “Thanks to his selections,” RBG said, “The Court has this Term, for the first time ever, more women than men serving as law clerks.” Her remarks are a lesson to us all: In order to further progress as a society, we need to create space for challenging conversations.
Source: CBS News
U.S. Women’s National Team makes history. Speaking of grace with grit, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) claimed a record fourth World Cup title on Sunday, beating the Netherlands, 2-0. The victory comes amid the team’s ongoing public battle against the U.S. Soccer Federation for greater equity off the field. Yet, the gender pay gap persists, regardless of their performance. When it comes to prize money, ESPN reported that players will receive $30 million for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Their counterparts on the men’s national team received $400 million last year. Nonetheless, these women have made one thing clear: power isn’t given. It must be taken. And brands can—and should— help spread the message. As Nike says with a new ad that honors the champions, “This team wins. Everyone wins.”
Source: Washington Post
The FQ Buzz. Can’t get enough of the Women’s World Cup and the champions behind it? Neither can we. Don’t miss this Forbes article by Shelley Zalis, CEO, The Female Quotient, where she says, “It’s time for a new playbook.” You can also catch Shelley’s commentary in this NBC News piece here.
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Thanks for reading! For more equality news, make sure to check out:
In Her Words: Thriving in the Employment Gap
#SeeHer 2020: GEM’s Global Influence on Increasing Gender Equality in Media