Sharing a Voice in the Discussion on Women in Civil Society and the Workplace: Towards Women’s Thriving and Impact

Abstract

Women are moving into more influential positions but not within the scope or at the speed at which they can now be considered to be equal with men. Policy relies on sheer number increase to address the gap in participation rates among women in the public sphere. However, there remain some key challenges related to this strategy. The paper serves as an inquiry into the qualities and capacities needed for women to become more empowered and have impact in the workplace and civil society. Health, resiliency, adaptability, creativity, the capacity to care, where individuals thrive and men and women are equal are some of the essentials among the capacities and qualities that we need to have sustainable, positive impact. With these essentials, women – and men – may be armed and nurtured to take on the increasingly complex challenge that humanity is facing. The paper argues for going beyond numbers and quotas and for beginning to conceptualize and create a paradigm where we can see the larger picture for why women may be leaving the so called public sphere, what the conditions are that drive them out, and more centrally what we need as leaders to move forward at this time.