In March, We Wear Purple: Progressing for Gender Equality
The Better Together team is wearing purple with purpose, as we continue celebrating Women’s History Month and Gender History Month! March is always a good time to remember and honor the resilience and achievements of women across the globe. It’s also an opportunity to ensure that the ongoing struggles of women aren’t once a year, but, each day, as a community, we must reflect on the progress made and renew our commitment to achieving true equity for all.
A good place to start is with Better Together’s mission.
“Better Together” encapsulates the mission that when individuals work together, inclusivity is fostered and progress can be made in achieving gender balance. It highlights the importance of collaboration rather than division and recognizes that equity cannot be achieved without all people actively participating and supporting.
As a Black woman-founded agency, we understand the significance of equity in the workplace and are dedicated to championing gender equality through our work. By fostering an environment that values and nurtures women’s talents and abilities, we build a more equitable and prosperous world. Our advocacy partners (our way of saying clients) are purpose-driven organizations who move to action, and we are proud to support them through creative strategies, campaigns, messaging and branding.
Trailblazing Women
Over the centuries, we’ve witnessed resilient women — both known and unknown — engaging in the fight for their rights, breaking glass ceilings, and shaping the path for future generations. We recognize iconic figures, like Cleopatra’s reign in Egypt, the suffragettes championing for women’s right to vote, and modern-day trailblazers like Oprah Winfrey, the world’s first Black billionaire. But, it’s essential to acknowledge that history is also shaped by everyday women, whose names are not etched in books, but have played a vital role in bringing us to where we are today
The legacy of women’s resilience and determination extends into various fields, leaving an indelible mark on various fields. In science, figures such as Marie Curie, a double Nobel Prize winner in both physics and chemistry, broke ground for women in STEM fields. Political figures like Angela Merkel, the first female Chancellor of Germany and at one point the most powerful woman in the world, demonstrated strategic abilities to out scheme her political opposition. In civil rights, women such as Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai have demonstrated unparalleled courage and resilience, fighting for equality and education. And, literature is enriched by the voices of authors like Maya Angelou and Virginia Woolf, whose works continue to inspire and challenge readers.
While we honor these trailblazers, it’s crucial to recognize the collective leadership styles that emphasize empathy, collaboration, and resilience — traits exhibited not only by iconic figures but also by everyday women, from entrepreneurs to full-time mothers. Therefore, we believe that every month should be an opportunity to celebrate women, past and present, for their diverse and impactful contributions to society.
Fostering Inclusion in the Workplace
From the early days of suffrage to the Equality Act, we have continued the work toward gender equity. Despite progress, there’s still the reality: women earn 24 percent less than men and own 50 percent less wealth. This wage and wealth gap highlights the importance of inclusion in the workplace. Recognizing the impact of these disparities, it’s crucial to address not just the numbers, but the underlying dynamics that contribute to inequality.
In workplace performance evaluations, both men and women are held to different standards. Dr. Jaclyn Margolis found in her research that women, despite outperforming and exceeding in accomplishments, are frequently overlooked compared to promoted men. This issue intensifies in senior roles, contributing to fewer women in top corporate positions. Margolis recommends adopting “qualification diversity” to eliminate unintentional biases favoring men in leadership criteria.
Boosting gender inclusion in leadership also means there is less discrimination throughout the organization — companies are more apt to win top talent, and improve employee satisfaction, customer orientation, and decision-making. This creates a positive cycle of increasing returns, strengthening our ability to attract high-caliber individuals.
Our Path Forward
Our journey toward gender equality is far from over. As we’ve noted, despite moving in the right direction, disparities exist in the workplace, politics, and education…basically all areas of society. Women more often than not face unequal pay, limited representation in leadership roles and barriers to advancement. Gender-based violence and discrimination continue to be prevalent issues that demand our attention and action.
Join us in proudly supporting women-founded businesses like Better Together. Consider re-evaluating investment strategies, such as the Hypatia Fund — an exchange-traded fund exclusively investing in companies led by women-identifying individuals. By sourcing products and services from female entrepreneurs, we economically empower women and foster a more inclusive economy.
Let’s recommit ourselves to pursuing gender balance, to amplifying the voices of marginalized Black and brown women, and to confronting the systems that perpetuate inequality actively. By shining a light on these issues, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone.
Better Together is shaking up the system, fostering inclusion, and making a difference in the push for gender equality. We combine our passion for social change and advocacy for a more just world, with a passion for communications. Through our work, we create meaningful and impactful campaigns that disrupt stereotypes, promote inclusivity and amplify the voices of those who need it the most. By using our platform and talents to drive change, we hope to inspire others to join us.
Purple for March
Stand with us in wearing purple to honor the achievements of women-identifying individuals, both past and present. Let’s acknowledge the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead. Most importantly, we are all Better Together, working collaboratively to build a society that values and respects the contributions of everyone. We aim for a future where gender equality is not a dream but a reality.
