Company Culture
Constellation Brands Inc., creator of America’s beloved beer, Corona, announced it plans to invest $100 million in female-founded alcoholic beverage companies over the next decade. As more than 80 percent of executives in the beverage and tobacco industry are men, Constellation Brands hopes to support and encourage more women to move up in the ranks in the historically male-dominated industry. Bloomberg
A recent study found that women are happier in the workplace when they work alongside other women. Is anyone surprised? Women make up nearly half of the US workforce yet still face barriers when entering traditionally male-dominated fields. The study revealed that when women work in environments with over 90% male coworkers, that leads to a 52% increase in unpleasant feelings. Quartz
Meanwhile on Wall Street, men are adopting the mindset that it’s better to interact with women as little as possible in order to minimize the risk of sexual harassment accusations. Not only does this give the impression that these men can’t interact with women without sexually harassing them; it’s also a dangerous sentiment. This kind of behavior could very well increase gender segregation in the workplace — something we definitely don’t need. Bloomberg
In response to the above article highlighting the avoidance tactics of Wall Street men in light of #MeToo, the site witnessed a rush of reactions. Here are some top executives’ thoughts; you’ll find everything from approval to disgust. Bloomberg
In Recent News
Some inspiration: Forbes released their annual World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list to celebrate amazing women who are using their voices to change the world. The list includes inspirational icons like Angela Merkel, Theresa May, Christine Lagard, and more. Forbes
Male birth control: The National Institutes of Health plans to test out a contraceptive gel for men in a clinical trial. If approved by the FDA, the new birth control gel would be rubbed onto men’s backs and shoulders and absorbed into the bloodstream. This monumental achievement would expand reproductive healthcare to include more men, easing the burden placed on women and reducing unwanted pregnancies. Forbes
The diverse future of medicine: Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges revealed that this year, more women than ever applied to medical schools around the nation, surpassing male applicants — they accounted for 50.9 percent of applicants to be exact. This is huge news; it’s the first time since 2004 that more women have applied to med school than men. Not only are there more women applying, but the new classes are significantly more racially and ethnically diverse. Cheers to a more diverse medical field! AAMC
Hacking diversity: AppNexus, an online advertising company, organized a panel of diversity and inclusion leaders at the 2018 Women’s Leadership Forum to discuss how to truly change the environment of inclusivity in offices. The panelists mentioned that hiring candidates with diverse backgrounds, both professionally and culturally, is just the first step to changing a workplace landscape. In order to embrace intersectional diversity, panelists recommended that hiring managers support and amplify all voices at the table, acknowledge privilege, and practice empathy. Forbes
Around the World
Diane Rwigara, a human rights activist in Rwanda, has been acquitted for charges of fraud and inciting insurrection. Three days after Rwigara announced her run for the Rwandan presidency as the only female challenger in 2017, supposed nude photos of her were leaked online to discredit her. After a long battle and support from US Congress members, her charges have been dropped. CNN
In Brazil, history has been made. There, a woman successfully gave birth to a baby after receiving a uterus transplant from a deceased donor. The incredible birth took place in the Hospital das Clínicas at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine in Brazil. CNN
In Australia, a group of workers left work early last Wednesday to protest gender pay inequality. More than 100 workers organized the demonstration, under the campaign name #WalkOutOz. The protesters left work at 3:50 p.m., the time at which women technically stop getting paid compared to men. CNN
Despite the #MeToo movement’s coverage of sexual assault, there are many who still severely underestimate the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment. As part of the Perils of Perception survey, men and women from the US and 12 other European countries answered questions about the proportion of women who they thought had experienced sexual harassment. The biggest misconceptions? In Denmark, the Netherlands, and France, participants underestimated the levels by 34-49 percent, signaling we still have a long way to go in raising awareness. The Guardian
