Anushree M Bag’s Post

Super-interesting Creative Bloq article exploring the gender imbalance in the design and VFX industry. Various women creatives share their perspectives on the persistence of this gap, highlighting factors like unconscious bias, underselling themselves, motherhood, and the lack of role models. I am currently working with a team of mainly female motion designers and it has been an eye-opening experience in many senses. I must say I agree with Rowena Curlewis statements when she emphasizes "women bring a level of emotional intelligence to the workplace that results in a more empathetic culture" and "generally female-led work cultures tend to be kinder and less egocentric". Do you agree? Do you all find differences when working with mainly female teams? Would love to hear your thoughts. #GenderInclusion #CreativeIndustryInsights

Diving into the creative industries, we often celebrate diversity in thought, design, and expression. But are we celebrating diversity in gender just as loudly? 🤔 We came across an eye-opening read that reveals how far we've got to go when it comes to gender diversity within creative fields. Here's the truth: The gender imbalance is real and it's bleak. It's not just about equal representation; it's about bringing untapped perspectives and ideas to the table. Gender diversity isn't a quota to meet. It's a reservoir of creativity waiting to be unleashed. If we're in creative industries, we pride ourselves on innovation, right? Well, innovate we must – in how we recruit, how we promote, and how we support our teams. Why? Because diverse teams make magic happen. They build better products, craft better experiences, and tell more comprehensive stories. So, here's our challenge to all in the creative sphere: ✅ Audit your team's gender diversity. ✅ Mentor and sponsor women. ✅ Implement inclusive hiring practices. ✅ Educate and challenge unconscious biases. Let's make our creative spaces as diverse as the world we draw inspiration from. Because when we do, we all thrive - in color, in design, in life. #DiversityInCreativity #CreativeIndustries #GenderDiversity #InclusiveCreativity

🌟 Embracing Diversity: Rejecting Gender Bias 🌟 The post of Dr. RASHID ALAMERI with a question "What is the thing that kills a woman's femininity, no matter how beautiful and charming she is?!' stirred a plethora of emotions and reflections within me. At first glance, it seems innocuous, perhaps even intending to shed light on the societal perception of femininity. Yet, as someone deeply committed to promoting sustainable values, I couldn't overlook the underlying harm in such a question. In our modern world, gender biases persist, casting shadows on individuality and potential. Every person deserves the freedom to express themselves authentically, irrespective of gender. This isn't about feminism or masculinism; it's about humanism. The rigid constructs of femininity and masculinity confine us all, limiting the exploration of our multifaceted identities. These biases not only restrict but also inflict deep emotional wounds, leading to depression and even suicide. It's time to break free from these societal shackles and embrace the beautiful spectrum of human diversity. I've chosen to share glimpses of my own journey—a collage of spontaneous manifestations that defy gender norms. From managing multinational corporations to promoting fitness, from pursuing education while raising children to gracefully navigating social events, each role I've embraced has contributed to my richness as an individual. Attempting to measure femininity or masculinity in these diverse roles would be futile, for my essence transcends such narrow categorizations. Colleagues commend my assertiveness in the meeting room, while friends and family cherish the softer facets of my personality. A sustainable mindset knows no gender boundaries. It's about empowering individuals to explore the full spectrum of their talents and passions. Let's not confine ourselves or others within the constraints of gender expectations. Instead, let's celebrate authenticity and grant everyone the freedom to be their true selves. 🌱💫 #EmbraceDiversity #BreakTheBias #SustainableLiving

Levi’s Commercial and Contemporary Feminism Women, are we really progressing? Levi’s latest commercial prompts reflection on contemporary feminism. In it, Beyoncé walks into a laundromat, strips off her jeans, and tosses them into a machine, remaining in a white culotte before sitting down to read a newspaper. This strange flashback raises questions about how commercial narratives align with modern feminist ideals and the broader cultural discourse on gender equality. For those who grew up in the ’80s, this scene instantly brings to mind another iconic Levi’s commercial from 1985. Do you remember it? Set to Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a strikingly handsome boy with dark, Elvis-like features walks into a laundromat. He calmly strips off his Levi’s 501 jeans and T-shirt, staying in nothing but his boxers, and reads a newspaper, unfazed by the people around him. This commercial didn’t just sell jeans; it catapulted the model, Nick Kamen, into the spotlight. He caught the eye of Madonna, who produced his 1986 single, “Each Time You Break My Heart.” The song became a hit. Tragically, on May 4th, 2021, Nick Kamen passed away at 59 after battling a long illness, leaving behind a legacy tied to an era of advertising that shaped cultural perceptions. However, 1985 was Nick Kamen’s year. But that Levi’s commercial became iconic because it subverted expectations.Instead of the tired stereotype of a woman undressing, we finally saw a man. And what a man! Now, fast forward to 2024, and what do we see? Once again, the same old stereotype: women stripping off their clothes. Some evolution, right? Apparently, Levi’s latest commercial embodies the contemporary version of feminism: a vision where naked women symbolize freedom, liberation, and empowerment. But is this really progress? Women’s portrayal feels more stereotyped than ever. When it comes to dressing – or undressing – this so-called freedom seems suspiciously aligned with what pleases the male gaze. Read more on the blog: https://lnkd.in/d9NQVyRY

“Women bring a level of emotional intelligence to the workplace that results in a more empathetic culture”.   One of our company values is fairness – kindness to each other, empathy for each other, shared responsibility. That doesn’t mean that Denomination is any less competitive or high achieving, but it does make it a different place to work. We feel this is a direct reflection of not only having two female founders, but also strong female leadership in each of our three offices. Our CEO, Rowena Curlewis spoke to Rosie Hilder at Creative Bloq about whether the design industry has a gender problem. You can read the full article below.   #EmpatheticCulture #FemaleLeadership #WorkplaceEquality

🔵🧠 Do Colors Speak Louder Than Words? 🎨 Ever pondered the power behind the pink-blue binary? Ever wondered how colors shape our preferences from childhood to adulthood? 🧐 Dive into our latest research findings on color preferences across genders and ages! 👧🏽👦🏻 Childhood Revelations: ↳Girls tend to favor pink/purple hues, while boys lean towards blue. ↳Interestingly, red emerges as a favorite among boys! 👩🏼🦰👨🏻🦱 Adult Insights: ↳Pink isn't a top pick for either gender, contrary to stereotypes. ↳Blue remains universally loved, but women show a fondness for red more than men. 🎨 Emotional Associations: ↳Pink evokes positive emotions, resonating equally with blue and red. ↳Women tend to have stronger positive associations with pink. 💡 What Does It All Mean? ↳Unveiling nuances in color preferences challenges traditional gender stereotypes. ↳Intersectionality with class and context adds layers to how colors are perceived. 🚗 Pink Cars & Gender Ideologies: ↳Pink cars challenge traditional gender norms, blurring the lines between masculine and feminine. ↳The story of pink cars traces back to icons like Sugar Ray Robinson and Elvis Presley, who flaunted them as symbols of opulence and individuality. ↳Despite strides in gender equality, pink still symbolizes femininity in the automotive world, perpetuating stereotypes. 👉🏽 Join the conversation! How do you think design can challenge or reinforce societal norms? What are your thoughts on the intersection of color, design, and gender? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 💬 #Design #diversity #culture #color #psychology #design #designer #pink #productdesign

Every day at Intuitive, employees build leading-edge technology that empowers doctors to save lives. This is a place where our passion for innovation, our laser focus on patient care, and a culture of openness and inclusivity drive meaningful progress and personal growth. Managing Engineering Fellow Pink (aka Ian) McDowall has been contributing to Intuitive’s progress for 16 years—but it’s only recently that they’ve felt the full power of belonging here. A tragic event propelled Pink to change. As their boss was dying, Pink looked back on their life and realized: “I had to be my authentic self.” Part of their expression was changing from the masculine clothes they had always worn to the office to wearing skirts and more female-style clothes. “Dressing the way I do makes me feel whole, and that’s a really great feeling.” Pink also wanted to use their own experience to educate other employees about gender identity—encouraging questions and dialogue after they gave a presentation about their new fashion. “I wanted to make it clear to people that it was important to me, and afterward people told me I’d made them more comfortable having conversations about gender identities, particularly with their kids.” Pink shares their story with the hope that it will “help other people feel a little more confident about expressing themselves.” Join us in building an Intuitive where everyone can belong and flourish: https://lnkd.in/exCvRUJU #WeAreIntuitive

I'm seeing so much talk about middle-aged women being invisible. I'm just not able to relate. Not because I don't feel invisible, but because I've ALWAYS felt invisible. So what has middle-age got to do with it? But this isn't a complaint. I've never wanted to be visible. My physical appearance and what other people make of it is something I'd rather not concern myself with tbh. Unless I'm making a holy show of myself and then I'd rather know. From my earliest days in work, as a very young woman, obese, inexperienced, accidental manager, in a male dominated environment, I considered my invisibility a super power. Why? Because I was under the radar, but when I had something to say, people were taken aback that it was sometimes valuable, from this person they'd never given a second thought to previously. That element of surprise became really valuable for me. It got me noticed but I wouldn't consider that to be a visibility thing. Invisibility doesn't bother me. Being heard and respected does. Being someone whose views are sought out and who rests easy in the knowledge that I know more today than I did yesterday, and have so much to contribute, that's a much more important feeling for me than my visibility or lack of it. And I'm not sure why this is a gender issue? Most middle-aged men don't seem to be highly "visible". Aren't most of us used to just being human wallpaper or lift music? Maybe when people say "invisible" they don't really mean it as a visual thing? Then can we change the language? It has nuance, it matters to the story we tell ourselves, as well as the one we tell others. We need to say what we mean. So if we don't really mean "invisible", call it what it is. Unheard? Undervalued? Overlooked? When we talk about invisibility, are we really talking about no longer being attractive or desirable? If so, it's worth remembering that not all of us have had that experience in life anyway, but we're still here, still keeping on, working with what we've got, more than worrying about what we haven't. Because if you've never had it, you don't miss it. And how much is our invisibility our state of mind as much as our environment? I'd personally worry more about being heard than being visible. And in my experience, that has nothing to do with age and everything to do with your competence, what you have to say and of course, how you say it. Even if, as in this case, people may not want to hear it. I somehow feel this might be construed as betraying the sisterhood, but it's genuinely not my intention. It's coming from a place of being somewhat perplexed by an experience I'm not new to and I don't understand the real issue with. And of course being educated if indeed I'm missing some crucial point here. It won't change my experience, but it may help me understand the issues with the middle-aged cloak of invisibility that others are concerned with. Or maybe it will help others see that some popular narratives are worth a rethink?

WHY I'M GENDERQUEER, PROFESSIONAL AND UNAFRAID For transgender and gender non-conforming people like myself, the question of what to wear to work becomes an exhausting question of identity and of survival. For us, the question changes from "how do I present my best self at work?" to "can I present my best self at work?" As an undergraduate at Duke, I spent four years learning to love and appreciate myself as a gender non-conforming person. Going into college, I thought that my desire to dress androgynously and adopt a feminine gender expression was shameful; and for the first few months of college, I hid it from others and from myself. But after years of work unearthing internalized oppression and masculine shame, I finally learned to keep my head high as I stomped by the frat boys in my five-inch heels. I made a name for myself at Duke, and by the end of four years I wore pencil skirts and pant-suits to meetings with the Board of Trustees. During undergrad, I became fully empowered and comfortable in my gender. Or so I thought... Professionalism is a funny term, because it masquerades as neutral despite being loaded with immense oppression. As a concept, professionalism is racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, imperialist and so much more -- and yet people act like professionalism is non-political. Bosses across the country constantly tell their employees to 'act professionally' without a second thought. Wear a garment that represents your non-Western culture to work? Your boss may tell you it's unprofessional. Wear your hair in braids or dreadlocks instead of straightened? That's probably unprofessional too. Wear shoes that are slightly scuffed because you can't yet afford new ones? People may not think you're being professional either... I thought back to all of this, took a deep breath and walked through the front door of my new office, heels click-clacking on the concrete floor. As transgender, genderqueer and gender non-conforming people, we deserve better. We deserve to have our work ethic and intellect respected regardless of how we choose to express our gender identities. We deserve to be able to wear clothing and behave in ways that affirm our gender. We deserve to be treated fairly in the workplace... While people may try to discriminate against me and tell me that I'm dressing "inappropriately" for work, I will hold on to my gender identity and sense of self. In the workplace, I will stick up for those who, like me, find that their gender does not match a prefabricated box. I will wear my heels, pearls and skirts to work until, hopefully, the world can learn to respect people like me... Credit: Jacob Tobia. HUFFPOST Source: https://lnkd.in/gRhAiYSf

Are they related: Feminism, Barbie culture, FemTech industry? I have been listening and watching the recent discourse surrounding the Barbie movie and its implications for women's empowerment. Growing up, I never quite connected with Barbie like many of my peers. However, as Barbie has evolved and as I have matured, I've come to appreciate Barbie as a symbol of female empowerment and possibility and I now have a much richer appreciation for feminism and the power of representation. I went to see the Barbie movie. I was pleasantly surprised by the messages it conveyed. It got me thinking - could we imagine a world where women of all backgrounds hold all positions of power, like presidents, CEOs, and Supreme Court justices? 🌍 This reflection extends beyond Barbie into the industry of FemTech - an industry ripe with potential for innovation and impact. 💡 Just as Barbie has inspired generations of women to dream big, I believe the FemTech industry holds the promise of revolutionizing healthcare and promoting gender equity. We are breaking down barriers at record speed; it's crucial that we create environments where everyone, regardless of gender or background, has the opportunity to thrive. Share your thoughts and what it takes to make a difference. #FemTech #Feminism #BarbieCulture #GenderEquality #Innovation #Healthcare #Empowerment #Representation #DreamBig