INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ’ S DAY
Breaking The Bias !
By Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi
March 8th , 2022 was International Women ’ s Day . It was the 111th commemoration of this day since its inception in 1911 . While we have made great strides in reducing gender inequalities across the world , a lot still remains to be done to provide equal opportunities for women . This year at Safaricom we celebrated this great day over three days with a wide range of guests who inspired , informed and drove the conversation around the ‘ Breaking the Bias ’ theme . After the three days I reflected on the conversations and identified four key lessons .
Call Out The Bias
On Day 1 of the event , I had the pleasure of being a panelist in a discussion on the key theme moderated by a seasoned HR practitioner Ejidia Kariuki . I was joined by two great women from Safaricom , Florence Kiburi , a champion for Women in Business and Lilian Kiambati , an engineer , breaking the barrier and an actionoriented mentor and sponsor for more Women in Tech .
Our guest speaker on the first day was Ms . Blandina Bobson , Director of Programmes , Oxfam and a specialist in Women ’ s Rights and Gender Justice , Governance and Accountability . In her speech , she chose to call out the biases that we are conscious or unconscious of . She read them out and asked us if we had been part of the people perpetuating biases . It hit home . To reflect on a few of the biases she called us out on - have we ever asked a married couple why they do not have children ? If yes , then we are biased . Have we asked a successful 30 something year old girl why she is not married ? If yes , then we are biased . It really got me thinking . We are part of the people who are perpetuating biases .
It reminded me of one Sunday about a year ago . I had gone to visit my parents as it is customary over the weekend . My loud and noisy nephews were playing soccer outside with my niece and they were rough . I called my niece to come inside the house before she got hurt . My mum called me out . She said , let her play . She wants to play , and she can hold her own ground . Calling her inside the house is applying a bias that communicates to her that she cannot play soccer . I was dumbstruck . She was right . She called out my bias . Immediately I asked my niece to go out and enjoy herself .
“ As women and men living in the 21st century we need to be the light for young girls to go after their dreams . Support girls to stay in school . Support girls to fearlessly select sciences if they so choose . Support young ladies to choose their career of choice . Mentor girls to face the world with confidence .”
The lesson I learnt is that we need to call out the biases around us when we notice them with courage if we are to succeed in breaking the bias .
Be Kind To Those Who Admit Their Biases
When I started my career , I worked as a management trainee in Unilever . It was a prestigious program of training . It was an exciting time . I had finished my university training and I was now working in a well-respected company . The opportunity provided a two-year training prior to job placement .
I was dating at the time . And I recall once when we were in a meeting with a few executives reviewing monthly performance . After the meeting we were chit chatting as colleagues and one of the executives , in his fifties at the time , said , ‘ you know once you get married your career is over . You will get children and you will be stuck in your current role .’
I am always quick to respond but this time I decided to listen . To understand where this view was coming from . And I realized that our upbringing , our cultural norms jade our perspective . And if we are honest many of us fail in this area .
When Safaricom run a series of trainings on unconscious bias , it was an eye opener to us all on all the biases we habor . If we are to break the bias , then we need to first create awareness and secondly provide an opportunity for feedback on how these biases can be mitigated . Companies provide longer maternity leaves to support young mothers . Others
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