Women in Business | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
A women’s discussion panel at Rey Rey Cafe on Feb. 7 opened students’ eyes to how women are treated in the workplace, as well as how women can take control of their lives and thrive in their respective jobs.
Introduction
Over the past century, there has been a great deal of societal and economic interest in the issue of women's employment participation. Even though gender equality in the workplace has come a long way, women still face many obstacles to full representation and career advancement in a variety of sectors and professions.
Women face many problems in the workplace, such as the gender pay gap, sexual harassment, imposter syndrome and more. According to Female Strong, 43% of women in the U.S. earn less than a man doing the same job.
Challenges
In spite of advancements, women continue to encounter numerous obstacles at work. Disparities in hiring, promotion and pay are caused by the persistence of gender discrimination, bias and stereotypes. The issue of women facing obstacles in their pursuit of senior leadership roles, commonly referred to as the “glass ceiling,” continues to be widespread.
Furthermore, women frequently shoulder a disproportionate share of caregiving duties, which can impede their ability to advance in their careers. These difficulties are exacerbated by intersectional factors, such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, which lead to differences in the employment of women.
ISSCM Club women’s panel
The Information Systems Supply Chain Management Club organized a women’s panel discussion called “Women in the Workplace” at Rey Rey Cafe on Feb. 7. Deb Kopecky, senior vice president of programs at AEVEX Aerospace Global, and Katie Link, commodity manager at Crown Equipment Corporation, were two speakers of the program.
They discussed the challenges women face in the workplace and how we can overcome this problem and make a comfortable environment for everyone.
“I was the only female in a lot of places, but I didn’t care about that because I knew that I was going to show the world that I can be anything,” Kopecky said.
Dr. Wakiuru Wamwara, professor and inclusion officer of the Raj Soin College of Business, and Miya Crawford, a supply chain management student, were the moderators of the program.
“I was the only girl in the class when I started my study here at Wright State University in supply chain and management, and it was definitely not a good vibe to be the only girl in the class,” Crawford said.
One of the biggest challenges women face in the workplace is biases.
“You can face biases anywhere you work. It could be an auto parts store or Home Depot, everywhere people will think you know less than the men,” Kopecky said.
According to Pew Research Center, about four in 10 women in the United States say they have faced discrimination in the workplace because of their gender.
Link shared her journey on finding confidence in the workplace.
“When I started at Crown, I was an introvert, but I am not bad as a team player. I created a development plan and took public speaking classes, which helped me a lot to build confidence. Another thing that helped me in the journey is my mentor,” Link said.
Confidence and resilience
The speakers also shared some key factors that help empower women to work anywhere and overcome challenges. These include confidence, competence, resilience and mentorship.
“I came from an extremely poor family and male chauvinist parents. I used to live with that, so I can show them I will do something big with my life,” Kopecky said.
