In our world today, conflicting realities are the norm.
Organisations have diversity and inclusion strategies, leadership buy-in and ongoing earnest efforts. But at the same time, some preferential treatment is rampant — such as the intake from the "elite institutions", an inside track to "people like us" and the "smoking bay" information channel. Other measures, like menstrual leave announcements, spark bitter word wars.
India has the lowest female workforce participation. The most educated women have to choose between work and having a family. And yet, data on gender-based pay disparity is not raising eyebrows.
On the one hand, Sustainable Development Goal 5 is regressing due to COVID-19. However, research shows women on company Boards boost the bottom line, and recently, the Indian IT industry has responded favourably.
The world is amid a massive change in engaging with equality, that is equal parts conflicted and messy. This is the dark teatime of the soul, for societies at large, and organisations within. At Obvious, we've navigated similar conflicts, and have tried to emerge out the other side.
|