4 minute read
International Womwn's Day
Inspiring Inclusion and Beyond: Don’t pull the ladder up and walk away.
Everyone deserves a seat at the table.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 was Inspiring Inclusion, an integral part of which is celebrating Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I), but it goes far beyond that in my opinion. What does it mean to really be included? I’ve heard the “inclusion” aspect of ED&I described as, not only being invited to the party (the party invitation being the equality and diversity element) but being asked to dance or to sit at a table and chat. The question then follows, how do we implement that in our working lives, both men and women, from all different backgrounds? My personal approach to inclusion stretches beyond making sure women have a seat at the table and that their voice is heard. It’s also about not pulling the ladder up behind me, about making sure as much as I can that others are able to access the same opportunities I’ve had, it’s about social mobility, reasonable adjustments and a whole compendium of considerations that will help others not only to attend the “party” (whatever that may be) but also to be themselves and to thrive.
Don’t turn away from helping others thrive.
I fundamentally believe that when we inspire others to understand and value inclusion that we really will forge a better world. Why bother you might ask, when times are tough and we need to closely guard and foster our own successes, and my answer is that the minute we stop caring and stop thinking about including others and helping them access opportunities to which we have been privileged, we are doing ourselves and society a dis-service. It’s like a chain reaction that once set in motion encourages others to take similar action – small incremental changes we take personally can lead to wider, more systemic changes, I truly believe that. I was recently asked, “shouldn’t we be doing less for others?”, to which my answer was, I don’t agree. It is our duty as human beings and as lawyers to do more to inspire inclusivity and to do as much for others as we can within our capacity as agents of change, be it volunteering, mentoring or pro bono work. All of these elements can create fundamental changes for the better and lead to greater inclusivity for those who may feel shut out or forgotten by society.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from; it’s who you are that matters.
When my great great grandfather, a Jewish tailor, left Poland in the late 19th century he bought a sea ticket to New York, hoping to make a better life for himself. The ticket turned out to be a fake and he ended up in Liverpool and then travelled to London where he set up a tailoring business on Gray’s Inn Road, a stone’s throw from where I now work at Gray’s Inn Square. His son, my great
grandfather continued to work as a tailor and raised a family of 5 children of which my grandmother was one. She told us that during World War II, her family changed their name from Marks Tannenbaum to Marsh because of antisemitism in London. I often reflect on the lack of inclusivity that forced a family to change their name and I wonder how they must have felt and come to terms with having to change their identity. I myself have witnessed a lack of inclusivity during my lifetime, both as a woman and ranging from comments about my surname (“these second and third generation Polish people blend into the community as though they were English”) to assuming I don’t speak English. I have felt robust enough to brush particular incidents off, but overall, I have felt inspired to stand up for, and to protect others where I can, in particular young women starting out in their legal careers, whatever background they may be from.
Education and awareness are crucial.
Education and awareness play vital roles in fostering inclusion and empowering people from all backgrounds. Through initiatives such as, mentorship programmes, educational workshops and advocacy campaigns, individuals and organisations can create opportunities for minority groups, including women, to thrive. By providing support and resources, and by not turning our eyes away from the key issues and simply walking by, we can empower others to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential. Inclusivity really is the key and represents a call to action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and create environments where all are valued and respected whatever their gender, race, class, sexuality or disability. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for everyone.
