At last...a women's network for the sector!

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At last...a women's network for the sector! 9

Governance | Rowena Lewis | 26 Oct 2010

Regular blogger Rowena Lewis gives her thoughts on a new network for women working in the charity sector.

On 14th October 2010 Third Sector Women - the first network for women working at all levels across the voluntary sector - opened its doors at a launch event hosted by the fabulous Bates Wells and Braithwaite. Fifty-five women from assistant to chief executive came together to discuss the state of equal pay in the sector and share experiences of negotiating pay.

This energising event was long overdue. After all the private and public sectors enjoy a rich fabric of women’s networks ranging from professional to internal and even regional networks, so why has it taken so long to establish a network for women across the voluntary sector?

In fact, do we even need a sector women’s network? After all the early women’s networks were established to counter the ‘old boy’s club’ by linking up the few women that had ambitions to smash the glass ceiling for peer support. But the voluntary sector is predominantly female and now that 46% of chief executives are women we’re hardly a minority?

Some argue that women network differently to men and that women need these spaces. Gail Blanke a US life-coach argues that men think “Who do I know who has what I need right now?” and ask for it, whereas women are, in her words “more complex”, seeking to create connections and friendships. Blanke suggests that whilst men are selfish in their approach to networking, women are more collaborative, thinking “What can I do for you in order to get what I need?” But do women really network differently to men and is that a good enough reason to create networking spaces for women in our sector?

Truth be told, I’ve not always been a fan of women’s networks. In fact I was once more of a cynic. Until I attended an Institute of Director’s event a few years back where men outnumbered women ten to one, and a modest rabble formed an orderly queue to seemingly talk at my breasts. I was frankly disappointed that my unavoidable status as a woman stood in the way of several men making a professional connection with me. That was perhaps the first time I noticed that networking events could sometimes feel like a ‘meat-market’, but not the last. Heck! I’ve even been groped in the name of my profession at ‘networking’ events.

So for me, women’s networks aren’t about playing the ‘old boys’ at their own game, they’re not about pandering to stereotypes and suggesting that women and men should network separately because they have different networking ‘styles’. For me, women’s networks are important because of the way I feel the moment I step into a women only space - I have confidence that my contribution will be taken seriously, I know from experience that I will make genuine and often lasting connections across my peer group, and that I won’t need to fend off unwelcome advances.

So do we really need a women’s network in a sector that is predominantly female? I say absolutely! And the feverpitch exchange of ideas and experiences at Bates Wells Braithwaite t’other week suggests I’m just one of many fans of the new Third Sector Women.

Third Sector Women is the brainchild of Rachel Whale, managing director of Vanilla Freelance. Find out more at www.vanillafreelance.co.uk.

Directory: Bates Wells & Braithwaite
Who's Who: Rowena Lewis

Place a comment

Helen Rice
chief executive
blackfriars advice centre
28 Oct 2010

Thanks Rowena for getting the event out on the blog.. it really was a great event.. a real chance for women to discuss how they real feel about this issues that affect women.

My father was a coal miner and used to go to the mens only bar for miners.. i was always really grateful that i did not have to go in!!!

[Reply]

Stolen
28 Oct 2010

Children need to be with children,sometimes.

So it is with many groups whatever the shared characteristic.

Point ... diversity is something but it is not everything

[Reply]

Rarry Revan
Ranter
Rantingrules
27 Oct 2010

Oooh, it hurts don't it Kevin? The thought of all those women doing stuff without us there (they are probably talking about us as well...).

So you don't get why women need a space/place to network? Would you question the need for a black fundraisers network? Surely the colour of someones skin also has nothing to do with "focussing on the matter in hand"?

If you have a look at the Fundraising top 50 most influential (which I know you are a big fan of) you will see a lack of ethnic minorities and women. Why? Something must be stopping them from climbing the dizzy heights of sectoral influence.

Or am I just getting all PC?

[Reply]

Kevin Baughen
Director
Bottom Line Ideas
27 Oct 2010

Rowena and other commenters

Sorry, but I just don't understand why the sharing of ideas is only of value or even possible when there aren't any men around. I work in many vibrant teams and gender does not stop us from focusing on the matter in hand.

I'm being 100% genuine in that I would like your help to understand why it's so important for women to have a no-man zone to achieve the things the above group will undoubtedly do.

I'm hoping your insight will help me be a better manager and team player so thanks.

[Reply]

Rowena Lewis
2010 Clore Social Fellow
Clore Social Leadership Programme
17 Nov 2010
Response to [Kevin Baughen]

Hi Kevin and other commentators, thank you for your response and I hope you see this belatedly reply.

I'm certainly not suggesting that the sharing of ideas is only of value when there aren't any men around and I very much enjoy working in diverse teams with men and women.

But as other commentators have highlighted there is value to women sharing experiences that they might not freely discuss otherwise.

What most surprises me about the responses to this blog is the lack of outrage or even surprise in response to the assertion that some men will liberally speak to a woman's breasts or consider themselves within their rights to touch a woman up in a professional setting. Have we, men and women alike, resigned ourselves to accepting this behaviour as part and parcel of networking in the sector?

[Reply]

Valery
28 Oct 2010
Response to [Kevin Baughen]

Hi Kevin,

I also think you're honesty is great.

Groups like these aren't suggesting that all men are bastards or there is a conspiracy to hold women back, but there is a need for space to discuss things freely.

Could women discuss the difficulties in negotiating pay freely in the prescence of men? Perhaps. Would they have a fair run at complaining about pregnancy discrimination, or indeed even why the fact that at conferences senior men do sometimes prefer to speak to their chests than to their faces if that room had men in it? I don't really think so.

Moreover, as Rowena points out, there is still a need for some 'affirmative action' style work in the sector. Senior management in charitable organisations remains too skewed towards men given it is a sector dominated by women at every other level. Perhaps it's time us women got together and started to talk about why that is?

[Reply]

Kio
28 Oct 2010
Response to [Kevin Baughen]

Hi Kevin, thanks for being so frank and for asking the question.

I agree with you that for the most part it's best to keep things as diverse as possible, but occasionally it's nice to be in a women-only space. Issues that are specific to women can be more easily, and frankly, aired and discussed, making it possible for a wider conversation to be opened up from there.

Hope that helps.

[Reply]

Sarah Brown
Head of Communications
Women's Resource Centre
26 Oct 2010

Great post Rowena and I agree - it's about time!

Here at Women's Resource Centre we also have an online network called the Women's Cafe on Ning which is a safe online space for those working in the women's sector to exchange ideas and network:

http://thewomenscafe.ning.com/

... it's certainly proved popular with almost 500 members, which clearly indicates a great desire amongst women working in the sector for such spaces. I'll definitely be checking Third Sector Women out!

[Reply]

Sally Campbell
Individual Giving Fundraiser
Fawcett Society
26 Oct 2010

Great news and as you say Rowena, long overdue!

[Reply]

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