Game changers 2022

Game changers 2022

Women of their word

To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, two fearless females explain how they’re changing the landscape for future generations

‘I’m fighting for fexible working, so my daughters don’t have to’

Anna Whitehouse, aka @mother_pukka, 40, spearheads the Flex Appeal campaign, lobbying the Government to make flexible working an option for everyone.

What motivated you to start Flex Appeal?

‘It started when I hit a crossroads while raising my kids – that point where you need flexibility for caring responsibilities, and it’s not there. I remember thinking, I don’t want my kids to have the same problem. I plan to break down those barriers to their success so they won’t have to quit their jobs to raise children.’

Covid forced us all to work from home, but do you think women have had a harder time in the workplace?

‘Definitely: 47% more mothers than fathers logged off their careers in lockdown, so it’s a reality. When you ask whose job is more important, it’s invariably a man’s because of the gender pay gap. So when you had the conversation about who was going to do the home-schooling, it was most often the woman doing it. Covid has changed the landscape, and I’d like us to build back differently.’

How can we do that?

‘What we’re pushing is for people to have that conversation in their own household. Partners need to understand that the playing field is warped. Collectively, if we all have that chat, it can have a real impact because all the smaller conversations gather momentum.’

This isn’t just for families, is it?

‘No, it’s for everyone. It’s for

ANNA’S ‘FLEX YOUR POWER’ TOP TIPS

Have open conversations at home.

You need an ally within your own home. Ask them to share the load more equally.

Stop thinking of flexible working as not being for you.

It’s for everyone. It’s also not simply working from home – that’s just one element of it.

We need men to ask for flexibility too.

Businesses need to enable men to work flexibly to support parental leave. This isn’t just something women should ask for.

Talk to your employer about flexible working.

Make sure business is at the centre of the conversation – a happier, healthier employee is more productive, which is good for business.

And don’t give up!

It’s a process – and it is possible. Find out more at motherpukka.co.uk.

‘When you ask whose job is more important, it’s ‘ invariably a man’s because of the gender pay gap

shift workers and zero-hour workers. It’s for those human factors that can’t always be shoehorned into a 9 to 5 setup. It has to be for everyone and it has to be possible everywhere. Yes, people all want a bit more money, but really you want to see more of your people.’

What one change could the Government bring in?

‘Make flexible working the default, for every single job. I think there’s only one role on an oil rig that potentially can’t be flexible on some level. We also need to stop saying flexible working is working from home – that’s just one element.’

What do you think the future holds?

‘We are moving to a world in which employees are working fluidly between HQ and home and now that the floodgates have opened, there will be change. Employers just need to give people the choice about where and when they work.

‘Flexible working benefits employers too, because it’s the best way to attract top talent and include a diverse range of people, so you can ultimately sell your products to a wider audience.’

‘I’m talking about the menopause so more women feel seen and heard’

Karen Arthur, 59, is a fashion creative and host of the podcast Menopause Whilst Black, who wants women to embrace midlife and all the changes that come with it.

Six years ago, I gave up a 28-year teaching career when it became too stressful. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and stopped working. I now realise this was the start of the menopause. The time off made me focus on myself for the first time. That’s when I vowed to dedicate the next 40 years of my life to doing things I love. The reason I started doing my podcast is because when I began going through the ‘ ‘I love ageing – it’s not only a privilege, it’s exciting. It’s about time we celebrate being this age, not this old

menopause, there wasn’t anyone who looked like me talking about it. I felt utterly alone. But the more diverse the space is, the more women will feel seen and heard.

Talking about the menopause is so much more than just addressing the condition – it’s about women of a certain age being seen. I feel like, just when women become more interesting because we’ve been on this planet for longer, society expects us to become invisible.

The menopause has helped me to find myself. Let’s be very clear, the menopause can be horrendous, but my symptoms led me to leave my job and my partner. I couldn't have done that without it.

However, I love ageing – it’s not only a privilege, it’s exciting. It’s about time we celebrate being this age, not this old. I don’t want women to be scared of ageing and I feel like we have been conditioned to be scared, but I’m here to tell you it’s something to look forward to.

K A RE N’S 5 G A M E - C H A N G E RS

1 GRATITUDE I’m grateful I’m still here. Not everyone made it this far.

2 THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

Everything you go through is also teaching you something. 3 ASK FOR HELP Therapy helped me unpick what I’d been through. 4 MY WARDROBE Wear what makes you happy – you are the occasion. 5 FIND THE JOY Bad things happen, you just have to find a way through them. Joy is there if you look for it.

Find out more at reddskin.co.uk.