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At Capita, we’re committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and respected and where our people can bring their different perspectives and whole selves to work. For us, International Women’s Day is about celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world, and reflecting on how we can do more, both as individuals and as an organisation to counter gender discrimination and inequity
In order to mark this year’s theme, #ChooseToChallenge, we asked the team to share a photo of someone who has inspired them by challenging gender bias and inequity, and to tell us why. These nominations could be colleagues, friends, family or public figures. We received lots of nominations to celebrate some very special people. Here are four of those nominations.
Tanya, Head of Volume Resourcing
“I nominate my sister, Lisa, because she inspires me every day. Lisa is a year younger than me and we could not be more different. My sister is a lesbian who is regularly discriminated against because of how she looks—she dresses in men’s clothes, hasn’t worn dresses since she was seven years old, she’s never worn make up and her hair is cropped. This isn’t for any reason other than it’s her preference, she still identifies as a female. She regularly draws questioning looks, she has been asked to leave female toilets and regularly laughed at by those who don’t find her look conventional. Why does she inspire me? Because she doesn’t care! When she was rejected in her current role for not being a cultural fit, she challenged them, sent details of her track record and persuaded them to change their mind. I’m so proud that my daughter gets to grow up with such a diverse influence.”
Tripti, Resourcing Project Coordinator
“I nominate Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland. At 34, Sanna Marin is at the helm of a five party, left-wing, female-led coalition government and she won the most votes in Finland’s last general election. She’s committed to tackling the gender pay gap, making the country carbon neutral by 2035, and persuading men to take their fair share of parental leave. Sanna recently said: ‘in every position I’ve ever been in, my gender has always been the starting point – that I am a young woman. I hope one day it won’t be an issue, that this question won’t be asked. I want to do as good a job as possible. I’m no better and no worse than a middle-aged man.'”
Lucy, Head of Professional Resourcing
“I nominate Reshma Saujani, lawyer, politician and founder of tech organisation Girls Who Code, the first organisation to create coding/technology courses for girls and subsequently encourage them to follow this path. Her book, ‘Be Brave not Perfect’, is about empowering girls and women across the world to be brave and not perfect at home, school and work, as we readily expect our boys to be. She has also done some brilliant TED talks and after listening to her speak at an HR conference, I’ve now banned the word bossy in our house, which has such bad connotations for girls. Reshma is the kind of woman who props other women up, without putting anyone else down.”
Shannon, Senior Client Executive
“I nominate Ana Kasparian, host of the progressive news show The Young Turks. Seeing a woman speak passionately about politics and refuse to conform to the meek and measured persona of a typical woman in broadcasting—there to “balance out” her hot-headed male co-anchor—reminds me every day to speak my mind, and to do it proudly.”
Thank you to everyone at Capita who submitted their nominations of people who have challenged gender bias and inequity. We hope we’ve inspired you this International Women’s Day.
Capita
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