Behind the Zoom Bookshelf: Lessons from my virtual backdrop on gender equality.
As we all have been showing off our bookshelves in our virtual backdrops, I have decided to do a series of blog posts deep-diving into the books that can be spotted on my shelves.
I’ve pulled out some lessons and quotes that resonated with me. As we carve out a better future for everyone, let’s take time to reflect on what knowledge and experience we have absorbed from the past.
I’d love to hear if you’ve read the books I mention and what you took from them. Reach out to me on my contact page to let me know. Also, please let me know what must-reads I’ve missed from each category!
Caption: 4 books on gender equality.
‘Little Black Book’, by Otegha Uwagba.
Caption: Photo of book, ‘Little Black Book’.
What Lynn Learned: This is the essential guide from any woman starting out in the world of business so too many lessons to sum up – and one I am going to have to re-read again (for branding, creative blocks and money issues!).
Fave quote: Chapter 10 is full of words of wisdom from some inspirational women – ‘Because you deserve better than made up Marilyn Monroe quotes’ - Otegha Uwagba.
Scribble scale: Lots and lots of page corners turned down!
Why it's relevant right now: Women entrepreneurs provide a key opportunity to add value to our economy, especially within the workplace reimagined after COVID: ‘Up to £250 billion of new value could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as UK men. Even if the UK were to achieve the same average share of women entrepreneurs as best-in-class peer countries, this would add £200 billion of new value to the UK economy (Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, HM Treasury 2019)’ - Prowress
Dive in now:
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‘Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead’ by Sheryl Sandberg.
Caption: Photo of book - ‘‘Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead’.
What Lynn Learned: That I do not need to be ashamed or awkward about my leadership ambitions a as a woman. Generally this gives amazing insight into the gender barriers to achieving leadership positions. Great combo of theory, case studies and practical advice.
Fave quote: So many!! “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.” And “There is no perfect fit when you're looking for the next big thing to do. You have to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than the other way around. The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.”
Scribble scale: Clearly too absorbed to take notes!
Why it's relevant right now: Statistics make the case: ‘Only 8 women (3.2%) held CEO roles in the FTSE 250 as of October 2019.’
Dive in now:
Read loads of awesome quotes on Goodreads.
‘Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality’ by Rebecca Asher.
Caption: Photo of ‘Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality’
What Lynn Learned: This gives a real-life insight into how gender inequality happens during women’s careers and lifetimes. It clearly explains the need for a parenting revolution.
Fave quote: ‘All of us – government, employers, members of the community, fathers and mothers themselves – must now work to release woman from this bind. Men and women must come out of their corners, meeting in the middle to share all the responsibilities and pleasure of life.’
Scribble scale: Blank because if I had started making notes and highlighting it would be covered.
Why it's relevant right now: Uptake of shared parental leave uptake, one of the policy solutions to redress this issue, has been devastatingly low.
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‘We Should All Be Feminists’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Caption: Photo of the book ‘We Should All Be Feminists’.
What Lynn Learned: That we can never forget the importance the cultural context for gender equality.
Fave quote: “My own definition is a feminist is a man or a woman who says, yes, there’s a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, we must do better. All of us, women and men, must do better.” and “Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.”
Scribble scale: Too pretty and pocket-sized to write on. (there is a piece of chewing gum on the front cover!)
Why it's relevant right now: Loads of stats have been published to show the disproportionate impact of COVID on women so we all need to work together to redress this issue:
‘UK risks ‘turning clock back’ on gender equality in pandemic’
‘Covid: Support 'repeatedly skewed towards men', say MPs’
‘Covid-19: Government policies ‘exacerbated’ gender inequality’
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