Gender bender rules corporate world

Gender bias is an unspoken practice that continues to create roadblocks for women, writes Garima Pant.

It would be futile to deny any kind of gender bias in the business world, because we all know it exists and manifests itself.

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In fact, why just the business world, women are still a disadvantaged community in homes, in schools and even in the corporate world, although the degree of discrimination may vary.

Perhaps the bias is not very evident at the junior level, but as you go up the ladder, you will find fewer women occupying the top slots.

The 'big boys' will hang out together, play golf and network their way through the muddle, but let a women try any of these strategies and she is immediately branded "fast" or "ambitious."

"I have been witness to instances where employers have been very categorical about not wanting women candidates for such and such a role, and I've often wondered, why? But I guess, some stereotypes just persist in our midst," rues Niti Prothi, HR Head, Copal Partners.

To this, Akila Jaikumar, Delivery Manager, Virtusa (India) Pvt Ltd adds, "The bias is so subtle, sometimes it exists only as an unspoken question in the mind of the executive on the selection panel."

This view, however, is vehemently denied by Kashmira Irani, Senior Vice President, Market Development, Kale Consultants.

"I haven't seen this kind of bias operating in my organisation. I feel that diversity adds to corporate culture and promotes a work environment that is healthy and productive," she elaborates.

This could be one reason why men don't often like reporting to female bosses, adds Jaikumar.

Prothi feels irritated when it is automatically assumed that the HR job is more suitable for women and a sales job for men.

"Gender should not be a hindrance," reasons Irani. "If a woman wants to be a super achiever, an excellent wife, mother, daughter, cook, teacher, professional... she can break all societal moulds. Eventually, she has to make a choice."

She accepts that these may be some of the issues that men don't necessarily have to deal with, since the roles expected from them are completely different, so the onus of shouldering double responsibility always lies with the woman, she adds.

"These days, daughters and sons are treated almost equal at home. But once they get married, everybody's expectations change where the girl is concerned," says Nidhi Khaitan Modi, Executive Director, Manya Education Pvt Ltd.

Therefore, "For change to happen it must happen at the family level," says Jaikumar. Meanwhile, organisations should also try to switch to some proactive, women-oriented policies.

After all, we have had precedents set by women such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon; Chanda Kochar, Executive Director of ICICI Bank and Vidya Chhabria, Chairman of Jumbo Group, who've secured places in the Fortune list of the world's most powerful women in business!