The 20th anniversary of Carleton’s Management Development Program for Women on May 11 was cause to ‘inspire, connect, and celebrate,’ as well as a reminder of the gender inequalities that still exist in the workplace and the need for more female leaders.
The gendered wage gap remains a problem for students entering the workforce, according to Linda Schweitzer, professor at Carleton’s Sprott School of business. Her research indicates that female undergraduates born between 1984 and 1994 have lower entry-level salary expectations than their male counterparts.
“If we’re in a post-feminist era, it’s not because gender equality has been achieved, but because so many people no longer pay attention to the gender gap.” said Lorraine Dyke, director of Carleton’s Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work.
“We’re going to need many more women pioneers to keep chipping away at that glass ceiling,” Dyke said.
Keynote speaker Rona Maynard and editor-in-chief of Chatelaine magazine echoed these sentiments.
Women in the workforce must embrace leadership to break the barriers of gender perception, Maynard said.
“[It’s] about being your best no matter what comes your way.”
