Empower, Together: CCWomen’s 2024 Theme for Achieving Collective Success
CCWomen’s 2023 theme was to “Exist Loudly,” a concept that champions women to thrive boldly in a world that doesn’t always give us the stage. Last year, we pursued tangible ways to elevate our community through resource kits curated by event speakers, enlightening webinar sessions with industry experts, career-relevant podcast episodes, and our CCWomen+ membership platform.
As we step into the new year, we want to continue furthering these efforts. Our new theme, "Empower, Together" touches upon the idea that women's empowerment is fortified through intentional community. We believe we can spark measurable change—with one another, our allies, and especially within ourselves—through unity and solidarity.
Here, we’ll explore why empowerment is our goal for the next year and provide best practices to strengthen our collective.
Despite making progress toward gender parity, we still have a ways to go.
We’ve come a long way in our efforts to achieve gender parity all across the globe. Before identifying our challenges, it’s important to spotlight our wins, big or small, to mark our progress and tread forward with more hope and determination.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2023 reports the following for economy, education, health, and politics:
- The global gender gap score for 146 reported countries is 68.4% closed, a .3 point increase from 68.1%. While the improvement is slight, it’s there nonetheless.
- Iceland, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, Nicaragua, Namibia, and Lithuania have closed their gender gap by at least 80%.
- North America has reduced 75% of its gender gap, while Europe takes a slight lead at 76.3%.
Slowly but surely, women and allies worldwide are moving the needle. Whether for better career opportunities or full bodily autonomy, we’re learning to fight for what we and our future generations deserve. We celebrate our milestones while acknowledging the uphill battle that lies before us.
For instance, let’s quickly zoom into the U.S. gender pay gap. Pew Research reveals that:
- The difference between men’s and women’s income has mostly stayed the same for nearly twenty years.
- Despite starting with similar wages and being more college-educated, women see a gradual pay gap increase compared to their male colleagues as they advance their careers.
- For men ages 35-44, 94% of fathers are employed compared to 75% of mothers. For childless professionals, 84% of men and 78% of women are in the workforce.
Many factors play into why this is still our reality. Hardships like the Great Recession and COVID-19 tend to impact women more—and there’s also the matter of outdated societal expectations hindering women from moving forward. One study suggests that gender discrimination contributes 40% to the gender pay gap, with there being additional hurdles for mothers.
When looking at these numbers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and focus on the negatives. Why is it that our gender identities, sexualities, and other unique identity markers are still perceived as lesser than? Haven’t we progressed enough that women receive recognition and pay that's more reflective of their worth?
The time to empower women in business is now.
As we’ve seen throughout history, meaningful change isn’t always linear, nor does it happen overnight. We must make women’s empowerment a lifelong commitment to see tangible improvements and create a more equitable workforce for the next generation.
In every facet of our careers and personal lives, we must operate with an action-oriented mindset to uplift ourselves and equip our larger community with the resources, knowledge, and network they need to exist loudly.
Here are a few ways to get started.
1. Practice self-advocacy.
Imposter syndrome. We all experience it, especially if we come from an underrepresented group. Our lack of confidence can also prevent us from speaking up or voicing our needs, leading to burnout and further discouragement.
No one knows your desires or ambitions better than yourself. If you’re struggling through a challenging project at work or feel that you can take on more responsibility, you must vocalize what you need to be set up for success—and ensure that your requests are met.
You are your best advocate. If you don’t see a seat for yourself at the table, you must stand your ground and have a say over decisions that can significantly impact your career trajectory.
2. Build a diverse and inclusive network.
If your network is relatively homogeneous, it may be an opportune time to branch out. It’s not necessarily wrong to be surrounded by like-minded peers, but if you’re constantly surrounded by the same opinions, there’s little room for innovation.
On the other hand, building connections with people from all walks of life opens doors to new perspectives. We all have our blind spots, but relying on people with different backgrounds, experiences, and opinions can allow us to consider solutions we might not have thought otherwise.
For instance, let’s say that your company wants to pursue DEI hiring practices. If you don’t have a wide range of peers providing their input, your efforts will be surface-level and will feel inauthentic. Uplifting and prioritizing all voices, especially those that are traditionally drowned out, is key to building a diverse community.
3. Dismantle unconscious biases.
A Women in the Workplace study reveals:
- Asian women are seven times more likely to be confused for someone else from a similar racial and ethnic background.
- Black women are three times more likely to have to code-switch than white men and women.
- LGBTQ+ women are five times more likely to hide parts of their identity.
Why? The answer is simple, but its layers are complex: unconscious bias. When people have a preconceived notion about someone based on their gender, age, sexual orientation, or race, they actively prevent their peers from being their authentic selves, potentially stunting their career or personal growth in the process.
Reflective exercises like Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT) help you become more aware of your attitude toward certain people groups. It can make you feel uncomfortable and perhaps even guilty, but dissecting your implicit thoughts is crucial for dismantling them.
Just as you should diversify your network, you must also intentionally unlearn harmful assumptions or stereotypes that cause you to think less of others. Having an unconscious bias isn’t always your fault, as it was likely socially conditioned, but it is your responsibility.
Consider how you can contribute to policies or practices that create more inclusive spaces and create a tangible action plan. Then, alongside a community that keeps you accountable, bring your efforts to fruition.
4. Engage in women-led initiatives to maximize impact.
Women play a vital role in fostering diverse and inclusive spaces. It’s not just about pursuing gender equity; we want to nurture a future where everyone can harness their skills and life experiences to drive positive change, but we can’t do it alone.
In other words, there’s strength in numbers. The more people engage in women-led movements and organizations, the more they boost visibility, awareness, and support. We can have as many resources as we want, but there’s little benefit if no one knows about them.
Women are increasingly taking the lead, becoming key change-makers in our corporate, educational, and political landscapes. Our empowerment is made possible by our collective contributions, so it’s important to do our part, no matter how big or small. You can promote an event, purchase from a women-owned business, or build mutually beneficial connections to expand your spheres of influence—and know that every conscious choice makes a difference.
Empower together with CCWomen.
When we empower together, we can grow, celebrate, and dream together. At CCWomen, we strive to be at the forefront of transformation, nurturing a space where women break barriers and succeed.
From career resources to networking opportunities to in-person events, we hope to continue equipping our members with an unparalleled community experience. Whether for professional or personal growth, CCWomen is here to elevate you in every season of life—and we’re excited to partner with you as we revolutionize the business world, one woman at a time.
