Bridging The Workplace Diversity Gap This International Women’s Day

Despite new initiatives to recruit and retain diverse talent, creative industries continue to be dominated by straight white men.

In fact, figures from a recent Parliamentary report reveal that since the start of the pandemic, the issue has worsened. Employment in the arts and entertainment sector for women has fallen by 44%, more than any other group in any industry, and yet 46% of grads are still considering a career in marketing. Clearly, piquing initial interest isn’t an issue - but once their foot is firmly in the door, where is it all going wrong?

‘Generation resignation’, unappealing unpaid internships mixed with rising living costs, plus minority ethnic workers reflecting on their own experiences and fighting for better treatment, could arguably be factors. Throw lack of cultural awareness, microaggressions and fewer promotional opportunities into it and no wonder the industry is struggling to keep talent.

As a female identifying, born and raised Londoner with Arab heritage and working class roots, an article last month dug up memories of trying to kickstart my career post-university almost a decade ago. Barely anyone in my family had enrolled in further education, so the onus fell on me to create my own opportunities through endless months of free work, taking what I could and rarely speaking up in fear of ‘rocking the boat’ or standing out any more than I already did.

The piece, penned by a creative director at a leading agency, detailed ten tips to retaining working class staff. Included were covering travel costs for entry level jobs, offering advice on how to dress for specific events, navigating sensitive topics that involve money and above all - showing them the way.

I’ll never forget the horror I felt when a few weeks into my first job I was asked to make a cafetiere (a what now?) for a major client meeting, when a colleague gasped when I said i’d never been to the opera, or when I was told I was hired because I was ‘different’ (in an office where I was the only non-white person, I’m sure we can all guess what that meant...).

It’s all about making people comfortable, regardless of their socio-economic background, sexuality, ability, race or gender, and acknowledging that not everyone has had the same experiences as you. For some it genuinely is like stepping into a totally new world where you’re having to adapt to fit in (hello, imposter syndrome!), and might be the only female at the table. Above that, it’s about being genuine and authentic in your efforts as you strive for a more diverse workforce, rather than treating it as a tick box exercise.

Whilst the author was accused by some of being patronising, I can honestly say I just wished a checklist like this existed for employers back in the day. It’s simple stuff and yet a lot of agency’s i’ve come across aren’t nailing the basics. Since the BLM movement was catapulted into the spotlight in 2020 after a series of tragic events, we’ve all been reminded that there’s no excuse; ignorance simply isn’t good enough.

This International Women’s Day, and after many years struggling with identity issues, I’m proud to say i’ll no longer bend and flex to be accepted in an industry that still has a long way to go. I’ve accomplished more than I imagined and as women it’s about time we started shouting about our successes, rather than staying silent in fear of negative assumptions.

Whatsmore, I’m incredibly grateful to work for such a progessive company that has made brilliant strides towards diversity, equality and inclusion with a dedicated committee that I sit on, and that actively keeps the issue front of mind (see here).

In response to the article in question, and to minority ethnic women embarking on their career, or for anyone who feels they’re struggling in a man’s world, here are some pieces of advice from my own experiences in the workplace:

Be unapologetically you - attempting to blend in can lead to feelings of insecurity and disconnection from your true self
Question your company’s policies on diversity - present solutions that you wish existed and encourage them to do better
Always put yourself forward for opportunities - regardless of whether you’re outnumbered, remind them that you’re worthy of taking that space
Don’t be afraid to ask - rather than trying to figure it out yourself and causing more worry, confide in someone you trust and request examples so you know for future
Embrace what makes you unique - talking about small areas of your personal life that may be different to others can help you feel more comfortable amongst colleagues
Don’t feel you need to justify or educate others - we live in a world where everyone is glued to their phone screens, the information is readily available - share resources and leave it up to them to do the rest