Gender equality has been a contemporary issue for the longest time ever, and will probably keep being one until people of all genders are treated the same. Although we are indeed taking steps in the right direction, there are still plenty of things that need to be ironed out.
How many times have actresses complained of unequal pay in Hollywood? And don’t women earn 30% less compared to their male counterparts for the same job?
Luckily, the fight against gender inequality has one revered warrior fighting within its ranks – Melinda Gates. The philanthropist has always held this specific cause dear, and she has recently upped her antics in the level of her involvement.
Melinda Gates, wife to Bill Gates if you didn’t already know, recently pledged $1 billion as a donation towards fighting inequality among genders.
Sleepless Nights
In the announcement, Gates admitted to this issue keeping her awake at night, with the lady thinking about how much better a place the world could be if everyone received equal treatment.
The 55-year-old lives for the day when news articles informing the public about the plight of women in regards to this issue will be a thing of the past, and when companies will be prioritizing diversity instead of just talking about it.
She hopes that all time, energy, and resources put in this fight will amount to something, and that’s why she’s doing everything in her power to see her dreams come to fruition. In the same announcement, Gates cites that there are numerous solutions that the world is yet to try, committing herself to expanding women’s reach in the US over the next decade.
We all know that the Gates are incredibly wealthy, but is this a joint venture between husband and wife, or is it Melinda’s herself? From what we know about this couple, they are usually on the same wavelength on just about everything.
This time isn’t any different, but the pledge is Melinda’s alone. She definitely must have talked to Bill before making such big of a move, and with what we know about the man, he would have done nothing other than encourage her to go for it.
Display Diversity
The $1 billion will be drawn from Pivotal Ventures, a company Melinda owns, and will be distributed to like-minded partners. To fit into this bracket, the firm simply has to display diversity in both its leadership and hiring process, but that alone doesn’t cut it.
These organizations also have to show a keen emphasis on breaking down gender bias by taking steps to advance women’s careers, and especially in fast track fields such as politics and technology, as well as applying the necessary pressure on other companies to take the same stand as themselves. It sounds easy enough, right? But in all honesty, it is a mammoth of a task.
Gates herself admits as much, saying that gender-based discrimination isn’t an issue to be solved with money alone. However, she hopes that all stakeholders involved consider her pledge to be a confidence vote in regards to efforts they’ve put in thus far.
She also hopes that her donation will serve as an incentive for others to come aboard this noble cause.