“26% of the company shouldn’t be doing 100% of the gender equality work”

Those who are likely to suffer negative consequences naturally have a strong motivation to fight in their corner. Unfortunately, in the case of gender equality, this has meant that women have been left to drive the majority of initiatives, resulting in a larger workload both in arranging and managing these projects and in being constantly required to shoulder the responsibility of acting as a role model.

Our Purple Pill initiative is intended to ensure that all men also make a commitment to gender equality and act as role models. It is vital that men engage with and participate in the development of our gender equality work.

The name Purple Pill is a reference to the famous Matrix metaphor for having the courage to see the truth and to take a stand.

”Inclusive Leadership”

One concrete example of an initiative nurtured by Purple Pill is our inclusive leadership lunches, when we invite male colleagues to the office to discuss gender equality issues.

We challenge norms and preconceptions. We want to increase awareness and learn to identify situations that may arise in the workplace and in life in general. We learn when and how we can take action. We use tools such as storytelling, the bystander approach and open discussion.

With the help of female colleagues, we have gathered a number of real-life cases from our own workplace and those of our customers. Basing discussion on real-life events allows for a highly relevant exchange of ideas, questions, experiences and perspectives.

Expertise in the field of gender equality, as well as an understanding of workplace dynamics, will be crucial to our future leadership.

Growing network

Unfortunately, the discussion of gender equality issues in a professional context with male colleagues is not something that otherwise takes place routinely. We have received incredible feedback from participants in these meetings and we have succeeded in reaching beyond the ‘usual suspects’, i.e. those men who will always show an interest and attend this type of event. Those who have already attended a lunch, invite new colleagues, ensuring that the network continues to grow.

The aim is for all male employees at Netlight to have attended a lunch and we have already succeeded in disseminating the concept to many of our offices.

Through these types of activities, we encourage more men to become engaged in our gender equality work. Would you like to learn more? Please feel free to get in touch!

Gunnar Risting: +46722770660  (gunnar.risting@netlight.com)

John Leijonmarck: +46704778113  (john.leijonmarck@netlight.com)