Name: Why are women still taken less seriously than men?
Uploaded: 2024-03-08T15:46:18Z
Duration: 12 min 49 s
Description: Women are routinely underestimated, overlooked, interrupted, talked over or mistaken for someone more junior at the workplace. Author Mary Ann Sieghart calls this the "authority gap" — all the ways women are (still) taken less seriously than men, despite proven competence and expertise. She explains how we can close this pernicious gap and why everyone wins when we do so.

Women are routinely underestimated, overlooked, interrupted, talked over or mistaken for someone more junior at the workplace. Author Mary Ann Sieghart calls this the "authority gap" — all the ways women are (still) taken less seriously than men, despite proven competence and expertise. She explains how we can close this pernicious gap and why everyone wins when we do so.

Why are women still taken less seriously than men?

Women are still taken less seriously than men, facing more interruptions and skepticism, even at the highest levels. Studies reveal men have six times more influence in group discussions, and women with identical qualifications are 30 percent less likely to get interviews. When societies and workplaces treat women as true equals, everyone benefits—from happier children to healthier, more satisfied men. Breaking old biases requires conscious effort, but doing so unlocks greater potential for all.