Make a mark in herstory this International Women’s Day

It’s easy to forget that

Women in Queensland, Australia could not be served alcohol inside public bars until 1970.
Women in the US could not have a credit card under their own name until 1974.
Women could not box in the Olympics until 2012.

This International Women’s Day, we remember the blood, sweat and tears that built progress in the society that we know today. We celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. And we look to a future that embraces women at all walks of life.

In business, the proportion of women in senior leadership gives us an overview of how gender plays out at the aggregate level. Grant Thornton’s 2019 report identified considerable differences around the APAC region on this key metric: Philippines (37%) and Vietnam (36%) had the highest proportions, whilst Thailand (19%) and Japan (15%) had the lowest.

Some of the variation across markets can be attributed to cultural differences and the norms that shape workplace behaviour.

Behavioural science tells us that human behaviour is often shaped by social norms (Manning, 2009). We follow what we believe is acceptable by everyone else in a given context – a standard that is always in flux! But precisely because norms vary across contexts and cultures could this mean that norms are open to change?

How do we instigate change? We start a movement:

Change starts with a single initiator but doesn’t take off until it is supported by the first follower, and then the second...before it becomes a new norm within the collective.

In other words,

If you want to see change, be the change you want to see. If you feel you are not the one to stand up first in your workplace, look around to those who are challenging norms and support them.

Your actions will be seen, your voice will be heard – and by the power of behavioural science, you will make a difference.

#ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021

Grant Thornton. (2019). Women in business: Building a blueprint for action. Grant Thornton International Ltd. Retrieved from the Grant Thornton website: https://www.grantthornton.com.vn/press/press-release-2019/women-in-business/

Manning, M. (2009). The effects of subjective norms on behaviour in the theory of planned behaviour: A meta‐analysis. British Journal of Social Psychology, 48(4), 649-705.

BlogAndrew DeLeeuwMarch 8, 2021behavioural science, behavioural economics, international women's day, behavioural change, behaviour change, social normsComment