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Tracey McEachran is president of Women in Social Housing.
How gender bias in social housing discussions is stifling innovation and progress
Tracey McEachran explains how she plans to empower women’s voices across the sector
You’re sitting in a room with more than a hundred people listening to an interesting panel discussion. The experts are discussing a topic you are interested in and you would like to ask a question.
Do you put your hand up without hesitation? Or do you think, “I’ll probably look stupid. There are people more knowledgeable in the room. I’ll let them ask the clever questions.”
“A study of 250 academic seminars across 10 countries found that men were 2.5 times more likely to ask a question”
I experienced this first-hand at a recent event where there was an even split between men and women in the audience. At the end of the talk, the facilitator asked if anyone had any questions. A few hands went up, the facilitator pointed to a man and he asked a question. Then another man and another.
After 30 minutes of hearing only male voices, I decided to put my hand up. My question was: “Why do you think with such an even split of women and men in this room, for the last 30 minutes, we have only heard male voices?”
The response: “I can’t help it if only men put their hands up.” Followed by: “I don’t know, why do you think?”
This experience highlights a bigger issue that permeates beyond the conference room. Statistics show that in mixed-gender meetings, women speak less. A study of 250 academic seminars across 10 countries found that men were 2.5 times more likely to ask a question.
This phenomenon, known as ‘first speaker advantage’, is a common occurrence in group discussions and meetings. The first speaker often sets the tone for the rest of the conversation, and their perspective may be viewed as more authoritative or credible than others who speak later.
This can make it difficult for women to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and perspectives, particularly if they feel their contributions may be dismissed or not taken seriously.
“We cannot change this alone. We need to raise awareness so that facilitators, managers and event organisers know to pay attention to who has their hands up”
The impact of this dynamic has widespread significance. When women’s voices are not heard, their perspectives are not fully considered and decisions may not reflect the diversity of experiences within the group. This can lead to missed opportunities and, in some cases, can perpetuate existing power imbalances and inequalities in our society.
This is why it’s important to encourage and empower everyone to use their voices and share their perspectives, especially in environments where they may feel marginalised or undervalued.
At Women in Social Housing (WISH), we provide events where women will be heard, will feel confident putting up their hand and, in so doing, build confidence to do that in whatever environment they find themselves in. But we cannot change this alone. We need to raise awareness so that facilitators, managers and event organisers know to pay attention to who has their hands up.
If they can choose a woman to ask the first question, then others will follow. I encourage facilitators to notice if there is a clear diversity in those holding their hands up and, if not, try to frame questions differently. Ask the audience how they feel about a topic or what their lived experience on the topic is, as everyone is an expert on their own lived experience.
After 20 years of WISH, there is no doubt that we have facilitated change in levelling the playing field. However, women are still less likely to have their voices heard.
As president of WISH, I would like to spend my time changing this dynamic. That is why, over the next 12 months, we plan to provide best practice guides for facilitators, managers and event organisers on how to ensure everyone’s voice is heard in group discussions.
We will also offer top tips for creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives. We believe that by raising awareness and providing practical guidance, we can create a culture that values and respects all voices.
If you have experience or stories about being silenced or marginalised in group discussions, or if you have tips or strategies that have worked for you in overcoming this issue, we would love to hear from you. Your insights and perspectives can help us develop more effective solutions and strategies for creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and heard.
Please do get in touch with us at WISH. Together, let’s work towards a future where everyone’s voice is heard.
Tracey McEachran, president, Women in Social Housing
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