This article was written by Victoria Camp, Transformation Manager at Commercial and investment. This article is one of the finalists in Apolitical’s 2020 women in government writing competition.

I believe there are 2 areas of focus for women in the public sector.

Some have cracked it, and I’m still on my journey, but for those of you starting out, I hope this helps open your eyes and gives you some tools to deal with the challenges you may face.

Inequality harms us all. I believe we are no longer educated to deal with the sexism that faces us today, and even if we are, we are not given the right tools to deal with it. Whilst this might not actively hold us back, the anger and frustration can create a destructive path in our careers as well as the overwhelming harm being caused by inequality to collaboration, innovation and mental health.

Educate

When I think of sexism, I think of wolf whistles, slaps on the bum, the office secretary and general 1970s behaviour.

We have socially created environments where those obvious displays of discrimination are unacceptable. Sadly though we didn’t deal with the beliefs that underpinned those behaviours.

What’s left? A far more subtle and insidious behaviour which is rooted in the belief that women (for example) cannot cope/achieve/manage/lead or do the same type of work as the average white male.

I have first-hand personal experience of being expected to do the admin tasks in any room dominated by males, colleagues have shared the same experiences: “She’ll take the minutes”.

A small focus group I created to support me with this piece confirmed, with 100% positive responses, that they were not confident in their abilities to spot subtle sexist behaviour.

We are also experiencing a lack of role models, people who are rewarded and praised, for their naturally inclusive behaviour. If we don’t see this behaviour around us how can we replicate and normalise it? Who of us reading have sat speechless and cross in meetings where discrimination has occurred, maybe we did not notice it, or worse, we did and just had no idea how to challenge it?

A sign reading “This is a ladies toilet for ladies and gay men only” stayed up in a professional place of work for a week on my watch, because I had to explain to peers why it was unacceptable and had to be removed.

The shame I feel at not simply tearing it down stays with me as does the fear about what else I might have missed.

All of us suffer unconscious bias, meaning our beliefs seep out into our interactions. I am as guilty as the next person of not always saying or thinking the right thing. I need help. My guess is we all do. I’ve been focussing on pragmatic activism which for me looks like this:

  • Sense check — if in doubt, just find a moment for an open chat with a trusted person

  • Practise deliberately working on your conscious bias out loud, so others have the chance to learn too

  • Learn from others — read around the topic, listen to podcasts, hear from others and you will begin to spot inequality with ease.

Intervene

So you’ve spotted it, in the moment, now what? Failure to act is completely acceptable. Your safety and wellbeing is the most important thing here, remember that please.

We don’t want to create “a scene” and often we don’t want to upset the person as they may be a colleague, manager or a loved one we just want to inform and try to show them a new way.

Humour can work if your wit is fast enough, change of subject or you can wait until the situation is over and then deal with the person in a more informal and focussed way. Focus group responses included all of these as well as using existing policies or guidance to support, additional training or of course neon sign and a huge red buzzer!

Essentially it is not easy because largely it may not be deliberate and dealing with it may cause more of a situation than the original comment.

However, I keep coming back to the point that most staunch feminists make, and that the Black Lives Matter is currently making, that if you are not actively trying to break down these beliefs then you are part of tide allowing them to carry on.

I used to be scared by that thought, scared that I had to do something, but then I started, casually at first with jokes, and now I write about things as they happen and I challenge myself and others when I hear discriminatory language or practises.

We all need to do our part and create environments which are rooted in the most inclusive of beliefs if we have any chance to survive the whirlwind of crazy coming our way. What else can help:

  • Be swift. Either deal with it there and then or decide not too and move along. It’s not going away and you will find another time, another comment, and a way to say what you wanted too

  • Avoid blame at all costs and share the experience whilst you are in it — bring your own bias in to help smooth the path. Know that HR policies and guidance are there to protect the organisation and not the individual

  • Considering your exit strategy and be prepared if your mental health suffers as a result of inequality, we cannot fix the world if we are broken.

Most workplaces most of the time are inclusive, friendly and great places to work. Working in the public sector is rewarding, challenging, exciting and noble.

It is a career worth considering seriously and yet you will face much of what I have described above and I want you to be prepared, to spare you the anger and frustration that goes alongside it and enable you to act!

Being able to speak up for those who are unable/unwilling to do so for themselves is a lifelong skill you will never be sad to have gained no matter your chosen career path.

The sooner we normalise the discomfort of dealing with inequality the sooner we can learn to thrive alongside our diverse and incredible colleagues. — Victoria Camp

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