Encouraging Executives to Rethink Their Decisions in the Moment
CEOs for Gender Equity
The Gender 10
We partnered with CEOs for Gender Equity, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring executives to create meaningful change in the business world, to develop a film that encourages leaders to consider the gender implications of every decision they make — no matter how small. Our concept, The Gender 10, asks executives to take just 10 seconds to pause and reflect on the gendered consequences of their actions in the moment, helping to bring attention to micro-aggressions that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Project partners:
The Problem
Leaders are often well-meaning and committed to fostering an inclusive workplace, but the challenge lies in the fact that many aren’t trained to recognise the subtle gender biases embedded in their day-to-day decisions.
These biases, or micro-aggressions, are often automatic and go unnoticed, such as when a group of male colleagues automatically invite one another to drinks or golf, excluding equally qualified women. We've made significant strides towards gender equity, which is why these issues may not be as obvious as they once were. However, that’s exactly why we need to stop and think in the moment before making a decision, to assess whether our actions are reinforcing outdated gender norms. There’s still work to do, and each small decision we make is an opportunity to make a difference.
The Film
We created a thought-provoking film designed to spark a moment of self-reflection in executives when making decisions.
Rather than asking leaders to think about gender equity in general, we wanted them to pause and ask themselves in specific situations, “How could this decision impact gender equity?”
Whether it’s choosing who to invite to an informal meeting or considering who will clean up after a meeting, The Gender 10 prompts executives to take a moment to reconsider their automatic choices. Through everyday scenarios, the film demonstrates how these small moments can lead to greater change when we consciously choose to act with gender equity in mind.