A hell of a lot of glass - achieving gender equality in the workplaces of Australia deals with the questions we’re all still asking:
- why are there still so few women CEOs in the top 200 ASX listed companies?
- why, after more than four decades of anti-discrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action legislation and policy in Australia, do we still not have gender equality at work?
- why is there still a gender pay gap in Australia?
- and why are some women still having to navigate not just glass ceilings but glass cliffs and labyrinths at work?
Importantly, the book includes practical ways to address these challenges.
The author Kate Ramsay draws on her considerable experience in the field of equal opportunity to produce a book that is informative, ‘meaty’, readable, and timely. Timely, because leaders are frustrated about finding solutions to these questions. Timely also, because the book outlines some important legislative changes about the gender pay gap and other employer responsibilities that leaders need to know about.
Targeted research by three contributing authors provides context, while interviews with 25 women provide fascinating and sometimes alarming details of their experiences in the workplace. Each chapter is a stand-alone essay on topics ranging from sexism and misogyny to imposter syndrome and the ‘elephant in the room’ of unconscious biases. Chapters are structured in sections: research, supporting anecdotes from interviewees, what more can be done, and conclusions.
A hell of a lot of glass makes an important contribution to ongoing discussion on this topic. It’s a must read for leaders keen to create a gender diverse workforce, for change agents with the inclusion and diversity portfolio in their workplaces, for women juggling work and family responsibilities and for all of us who want equality at work.
Kate Ramsay is the managing director of AnD Leadership Consulting and has had over 35 years’ experience working as a consultant specialising in gender-based equal employment opportunity and in leadership coaching and mentoring. She is the author of Go with Love – a memoir about love, loss and learning and co-author of Barriers to Women Working in Corporate Management.
* Kate Ramsay’s A hell of a lot of glass smashes the illusion of an equal playing field in today’s Australian workplace in a highly constructive and readable way.
* This book takes a fresh approach: it combines solid research with sometimes disturbing interviews, but always offers hope.
* This is an important book that needed to be written. It taps into the momentum of #MeToo, the March4Justice and the teal independents, as well as recent legislative changes impacting employers.
* Kate Ramsay said she wrote the book after decades of coaching women made her realise the glass ceiling is not only still there but that there’s also a hell of a lot of other glass impeding women’s progress; such as the glass cliff and the glass labyrinth, and even double glazing for women of colour, women with a disability and women from the LGBTQI+ communities.
* A hell of a lot of glass is a book that employers should read and employees will relate to. Women will love it but it’s not just a book for women.
Publicity:
* Major media outlets will be contacted.
* Press releases will be sent to a range of media outlets.
* Social media campaign.
* Online campaign through blogs, podcasts, etc.
* The book will be sent to inclusion and diversity managers, as well as the leaders sponsoring these programs.
* Copies will also be sent to the federal Sex Discrimination Commission, and the state and territory based equal opportunity and sex discrimination commissions.
