Motivations |
The relevance of the issue for organizations |
“An organization that does not have women in decision-making positions does not reflect society, does not understand society and leaves companies poorer in many ways” (E3, Net A). |
Influence of experiences abroad |
“Ten years later, when I came back to Brazil [after working in a bank in Switzerland], it was somewhat mind-blowing to know that these very intelligent and professionally ambitious women, with whom I had contact, were not working in any companies. They had little children and had a hard time reconciling work and family. Yet men were all vice presidents in large corporations” (E3, Net A). |
Personal purpose and legacy |
“My greatest wish is to make my contribution. That’s because of the professional level I reached - I became a CEO - with all my career and my life experience, with my struggles and my battles, I believe that I should try to help other women to get there too” (E8, Net B). |
Motivations |
Career development and professional networking |
“Participation in the network brought me recognition in the company I work, and it also improved my articulation in the organization” (E1, Net A). |
Focus of action |
Gender parity at the highest hierarchical levels |
As a first objective, the networks analyzed have gender parity in the positions of power and decision-making in companies. This goal works as a guiding force for their actions, which are carried out at two levels: 1. individual level that aims to promote the development of new skills for women who are already active in the market, training them to work in middle and top management positions; 2. organizational level that cares for the promotion of events and instructive projects on relations between gender equity and financial results (DOCUMENTATION OF THE A AND B NETWORKS). |
Partnerships with strategic stakeholders |
The most strategic stakeholders of the networks are Business Schools, international organizations, such as UN Women, other national and international networks, and the government. Partnership agreements focus mainly on enabling an expansion of the action scope for the network. More specifically, it seeks to contact young professionals at their career start to assist them in getting to leadership positions. To do so, the networks have been developing forms of integration and support, either through the mentoring program or through the support of a business school (DOCUMENTATION OF A AND B NETWORKS). |
Challenges |
Diagnosis of causes |
“We focus on identifying the causes of gender disparity in positions of power, which is very difficult” (E5, Net A). |
Intersectionality |
“We do not talk much about diversity [race, sexual orientation, etc.]. There are other entities or organizations that deal with that. In fact, our goal is to help women, at managerial positions, reach the top level of companies” (E8, Net B). |
Barriers |
Sexism |
“Brazil has a sexist culture that replicates itself in the business world. This culture is embodied by women, and most of them do not realize gender inequality in high-ranking posts” (E1, Net A). |
Abandonment of career |
“Some women, at a certain career level, leave the job market, which contributes to this imbalance in the top management positions” (E1, Net A). |
Barriers |
Biases |
“The network holds many networking meetings for women early in the morning. For me, it is a good time because my children leave for school. So, I take advantage of the children’s school time, and I also take part of my work time, and I attend the meetings. At night, for me, it’s awful because I get back home, then I have to wash my children, have dinner, help them with their homework” (E7, Net B). |
Absence of organizational policies |
“In Brazil, few companies are involved in gender equality, and most of them are multinational corporations” (E2, Net A). |
Lack of resources |
“This is voluntary work. In order to expand our activities and rely on structured projects and programs, we would need a fixed team, remunerated properly” (E3, Net A). |
View on feminism |
Recognition and rejection |
“I do not sympathize with the feminist movement at all. It does not drive me. Of course, I’m not throwing away the feminist movement background. But I would not be a person who would go burn bras on the streets. It is not my way. I would not participate, you know...” (E4, Net A). “Oh, I do not see myself as a feminist. All that extreme. I think that’s the last straw. I’ve seen a lot of demonstrations, women with breasts out, protesting. I think that’s damn silly. This is my view: I am against everything that is extreme, exaggerated, and that causes segregation. I do not think we have to start a war between men and women, and there are a lot of people heading that way. We take the risk of getting the feminist movements to sabotage merit initiatives, don’t we?” (E6, Net B). |