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No-Brainer: Parents' health benefits from paid leave

Becoming a parent is hard. New moms and dads must cope with new schedules, new roles, and new expectations. Mothers are also recovering from pregnancy and childbirth and experiencing post-partum changes in their biology. Add to that the financial stresses associated with taking a leave of absence from work &mdash; often unpaid &mdash; and the transition to parenthood can become a perfect storm, triggering mental health problems like post-partum depression.&nbsp;
What can be done to reduce the stress on parents and protect their mental health? Advocates say parental paid leave policies are critical: Paid leave can support parents and offer financial stability, flexibility, and time to bond with their baby.
A new <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00311-5/fulltext">systematic review</a> examined the international evidence on the association between parental leave and mental health among parents, including the effects of payment and duration.&nbsp;Here's what it found: 
<img src="https://wmnhealthpublicfiles.blob.core.windows.net/publicfiles/MediaLibrary/a4a29de0_fed1_462b_92ba_2ffa95e99bf0_77ce650b2d.jpeg" alt="Paid parental leave and health" width="1250" height="917" />

References:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">U.S. Department of Labor. <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla">Family and Medical Leave Act.&nbsp;</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Heshmati, A., Honkaniemi, H. and Juarez S.P. (2023). <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00311-5/fulltext">The effect of parental leave on parents' mental health: a systematic review.</a> The Lancet Public Health. 8(1): E57-75.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

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Q&A: Psychologist Sarah Schwartz on climate change and womanhood  

As the impacts of climate change worsen, women increasingly find themselves surrounded by uncertainty. Forced to make major life decisions around their careers, marriage, and parenthood while grappling with this uncertainty and a sense of impending doom, their mental health is suffering. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Sarah Schwartz, Associate Professor of Psychology at Suffolk University in Boston, has examined the relationship between climate change and mental health among young adults around the U.S. &nbsp;&nbsp;
wmnHealth spoke to Schwartz about her interest in studying climate change, how it's impacting young women, and why taking collective action for the climate beats individual action. &nbsp;
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. &nbsp;&nbsp;

wmnHealth: How did you become interested in studying climate change and its psychological impacts? &nbsp;&nbsp;
Sarah Schwartz: This area is closely related to my identity, particularly my identity as a mother. While on maternity leave, I started thinking, "What will I tell my children about what I was doing to address climate change in this crucial window of time?" And that is what led to a shift in my research. &nbsp;&nbsp;
What's on the minds of young adults as climate change accelerates? &nbsp;&nbsp;
Schwartz: I taught a college class on psychology and climate change. Among college students was this sense of "I've always seen having kids as an important part of my life and my future. But now, I'm questioning whether I should have kids or I've decided I will not because of climate change." For many, that's one of the few places they can exert control. And so, they think, "I'm going to take the control that I can over my own body and my family decisions." &nbsp;&nbsp;

How can people combat these feelings of helplessness and mobilize climate action? &nbsp;&nbsp;
Schwartz: Collective action may be helpful for personal mental health and to make [political] change. And we have the numbers on our side. So, I hope that if we can get folks to channel their concerns about climate change into action and use whatever skillset they have to bring attention to this issue, we can make change happen. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Collective action sounds like a helpful strategy, but what does it look like in practice? &nbsp;&nbsp;
Schwartz: Often, people think of activism as being the person up front with the loudspeaker. That's one way to engage in activism, but there are other ways. For example, collective action could be anything from attending an educational event, talking with friends and family about climate change, participating in a political campaign, or signing a petition. So, collective action can look like a lot of different things. &nbsp; &nbsp;

What makes collective action so impactful? &nbsp;&nbsp;
Schwartz: Interestingly, in addition to collective action, we also looked at individual action, which are things like reducing your carbon footprint or energy use, or recycling. For individual action, we didn't find the same buffering effect for depression, possibly because collective action also includes a piece of social support. We know that social support has a protective effect on depression. When we think about women's health, that social support piece is vital. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;
More generally, we often hear a sense of helplessness from young adults: "Anything I do is just a drop in the bucket and isn't going to make a difference." What's powerful about collective action is the sense of power, the sense of agency it provides. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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Take Charge of Your Health: 5 essential spring reads

Women face enormous pressures to nurture people around them, leaving little to no room for them to prioritize their own health. This creates a lasting cycle of inequities that affect their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. &nbsp; &nbsp; Chosen by the wmnHealth team, here are five must-read books that use a compelling mix of history, research, and personal stories to empower women to be better advocates of their health.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<h2>1. <a href="https://www.jasonkarlawish.com/the-problem-of-alzheimers">The Problem of Alzheimer&rsquo;s</a>: How Science, Culture and Politics Turned a Rare Disease Into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It</h2>
By Jason Karlawish (St. Martin's Press)&nbsp;
Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer&rsquo;s than men. This book by physician and writer Jason Karlawish explores the history and treatments of the disease, mapping out what we know about it, what mysteries remain, and how we can improve dementia care.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<h2>2. <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jenny-wang/permission-to-come-home/9781538708002/">Permission to Come Home</a> Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans </h2>
By Jenny Wang (Balance)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Psychologist <a href="https://www.jennywangphd.com/">Jenny Wang</a>&rsquo;s guidebook breaks down stigma of mental health in the Asian American community by inviting readers to break away from the fear of failure and giving them a roadmap toward acceptance and belonging.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<h2>3. <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/articles/interviews/rebel-bodies-interview/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=linktree&amp;utm_campaign=">Rebel Bodies</a> </h2>
By Sarah Graham (Green Tree)&nbsp;
Women&rsquo;s health is globally overlooked. This empowering read by health journalist Sarah Graham delves into the painful legacy of gender bias in medicine and explains how sexism has impacted health outcomes for women.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<h2>4. <a href="https://www.suzannemethot.ca/">Legacy</a>: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing </h2>
By Suzanne Methot (ECW Press)&nbsp;
Indigenous writer Suzanne Methot explains how decades of colonialization have traumatized indigenous communities, resulting in a sense of isolation and helplessness that has been inherited by generation after generation. She gently invites readers on a healing journey using traditional medicine and wellness practices, bringing them closer to their culture and heritage.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;

<h2>5. <a href="https://katherine-may.co.uk/the-electricity-of-every-living-thing">The Electricity of Every Living Thing:</a> One Woman's Walk with Asperger's </h2>
By Katherine May (Trapeze)&nbsp; &nbsp; This raw memoir by author and podcaster Katherine May describes her journey of coming to terms with her autism diagnosis. She proceeds to looks at her life in a new light, understanding why she faced sensory challenges as a child and why motherhood has been so overwhelming. Her experiences offer comfort and encourage self-acceptance.&nbsp;&nbsp;<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}">&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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Make this the century for women's health

<img src="https://wmnhealthpublicfiles.blob.core.windows.net/publicfiles/MediaLibrary/808aae50_bd92_4cba_bf0e_2bc770c17b84_7e2755cd03" alt="" width="1200" height="880" />
Women were largely left out of health research until the 1990s. Now, they make up <a class="Hyperlink SCXW234887625 BCX4" href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/26479/CT_Highlights.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than 50 percent of clinical trial participants in the United States</a>. 
Those gains are cause for celebration! But we can&rsquo;t stop there: The data also show that pregnant and lactating individuals, sexual- and gender-minority populations, and racial and ethnic subgroups of women are still woefully underrepresented. 
To close the gender health gap, clinical trials and research need to change to reflect the priorities, interests, and voices of women and gender-diverse people everywhere.&nbsp;
Let's make this century different.

References: 
<ol>
<li><a href="https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sites/orwh/files/docs/ORWH21_Timeline_508C.pdf">Historical Timeline &ndash; 30 years of Advancing Women&rsquo;s Health. National Institutes of Health</a> (Office of Research on Women&rsquo;s Health). &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Natterson-Horowitz, B. (2023, February 14). <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-scientists-are-learning-about-womens-health-from-other-female-animals/">Here&rsquo;s what scientists are learning about women&rsquo;s health from other female animals.</a> Scientific American.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://swhr.org/about/history/timeline/">Making Women&rsquo;s Health Mainstream: A History</a>. Society for Women&rsquo;s Health Research. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

Help advance equity in women's health research by participating in a wmnHealth study: <a href="https://discrimination.wmnhealth.org/#studies">Discrimination and Mental Health in Our Community</a>&nbsp;

Partipicate

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International Women's Day: 5 ways to be proactive about your brain health 

March is a time to celebrate women's achievements and shine a light on the inequalities holding women back in many spheres of life.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This year's International Women's Day, led by the United Nations, focuses on <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2022/12/international-womens-day-2023-digitall-innovation-and-technology-for-gender-equality">innovation and technology for gender equality</a>. It is about closing the digital gender divide and ensuring that innovation, technology, and digital education work for girls and women everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It's a theme that resonates deeply with the wmnHealth team.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Through the stories we tell, we're calling out inequities in women's lives that affect their mental and neurological health. We're also drawing attention to the <a href="https://discrimination.wmnhealth.org/">biases and discrimination that negatively affect their brains and bodies</a>, and the neglect, indifference, and underfunding of women's health research.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Beyond raising awareness, we conduct mental and neurological health research prioritizing women and gender-diverse people. And we are striving to meet their brain health needs by developing free and accessible digital solutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An equitable world is one where women can flourish because their physical and psychological health needs are seen, understood, and met.&nbsp;&nbsp;
There's a long way to go. But here's a short list of steps you can take to celebrate women and advance equity in brain health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>1. Show yourself compassion&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
How do you treat yourself when things don't go as planned? What does your inner voice have to say about you? Are you being unkind or unforgiving? Research suggests that <a href="https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Yarnell2019_Article_GenderDifferencesInSelf-Compas.pdf">women have slightly lower levels of self-compassion than men</a>. It also shows people with higher self-compassion show <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027273581200092X?via%3Dihub">lower levels of anxiety and depression</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings &ndash; after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?" suggests Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the 2021 book "<a href="https://self-compassion.org/fierce-self-compassion/">Fierce Self-Compassion</a>." &nbsp;
Watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NeffKristin">Neff's videos</a> for tips on practicing self-compassion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>2. Engage in real self-care&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
The term self-care has become ubiquitous. But what does it really mean &mdash; and why should you make time for it?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, author of the new book, "Real Self-Care," <a href="https://www.poojalakshmin.com/realselfcare">calls it "a way to be,"</a> not something "to buy or to do," such as a silk pillowcase or a juice cleanse. She considers it a guiding principle that helps you find things that genuinely contribute to your health and well-being. Take yoga, for example. A yoga class could be a form of real self-care if it forces you to set hard boundaries with others to get to class, if it aligns with your values, and if you're truly present during class. However, yoga could be a form of faux self-care if you're &nbsp;worried about what you're wearing and whether you can keep up with your classmates' yoga practice.. &nbsp;
Lakshmin's book includes a four-part framework to help you understand your motivations for self-care and identify the solutions &mdash; yoga or otherwise &mdash; that will work for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>3. Celebrate IWD with the women in your life&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
In North America, International Women's Day (IWD) has been co-opted by brands selling purple <a href="https://sneakernews.com/2023/03/02/air-jordan-1-low-iwd-international-womens-day-dr8057-500-store-list/">running shoes</a> and other goods. But in other parts of the world, IWD is truly a celebration. In Italy, for example, "La Festa Della Donna" is marked by the giving and receiving bright yellow mimosa flowers. In Germany, Berlin recognizes the IWD, known as Frauentag, as a public holiday, so women can take the day off. In Croatia, women come together to dine and dance. It's not only more authentic, but it also fulfills the need for social connection that helps keep our brains healthy. So, in addition to going to an IWD2023 dance party, find <a href="https://wmnhealth.org/en/blog/picturing-brain-health-making-connections/">other ways to cultivate belonging</a> and try a <a href="https://wmnhealth.org/en/blog/try-these-5-tools-to-boost-your-social-connections/">variety of tools</a> that can help you connect with others.

<h2>4. Participate in a health research study&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
There's more research on women's health than ever before, but there is also a lot of catching up to do. For decades, women were excluded from clinical trials and research, so there is still a lack of information on diseases that predominantly affect women and how sex and gender influence common diseases. This is called the gender health gap &mdash; and it's enormous. You can help close the gap by participating in research studies by scientists at universities, hospitals, health charities, and organizations like wmnHealth. In the past, studies were hard to find, time-consuming, or inconvenient. However, today, you can often participate in research from your home in minutes using a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. That's the case with our studies, including <a href="https://discrimination.wmnhealth.org/#studies">Discrimination and Mental Health in Our Community</a>. wmnHealth is also committed to sharing research results with participants and providing strategies that can help you improve your mental and neurological health. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>5. Support organizations advocating for the advancement of women&rsquo;s health&nbsp;</h2>
In North America, dozens of organizations are dedicated to advocacy, research, and support for mental and neurological health, women's health, and sexual and reproductive health. In addition to those focused on health, there are others focused on supporting women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math, and entrepreneurs who identify as women. They, too, play an essential role in women's health innovation because who is doing the science and developing the technology drives what problems get studied and the solutions to those problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Here are a few examples:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Women's health research:&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://swhr.org/">Society for Women's Health Research</a>: A U.S. organization working to mainstream women's health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://whcc.ca/">Women's Health Collective Canada</a> A trio of Canadian health and hospital foundations tackling the gender health gap.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://bwhi.org/">Black Women's Health Imperative</a>: A U.S. national non-profit dedicated to achieving health equity for Black women.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Women entrepreneurs: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://coralus.world/">Coralus</a> (formerly SheEO): A global organization supporting individual women and nonbinary ventures working on "the world's to-do list."&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Women scientists: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://500womenscientists.org/">500 Women Scientists</a>: Born out of the March for Science in 2016, this organization is fighting for structural change in science to make it more open, inclusive, and accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="o" data-font="Courier New" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559682&quot;:3,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Courier New&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;o&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.alba.network/">ALBA Network</a>: An organization promoting equity and diversity in the brain sciences.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

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<div class="jss297 jss300 content wysiwyg-output-resources_item_content-container">
Help us learn more about how discrimination influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by joining&nbsp;our <a href="https://wmn003.wmnhealth.org/">Discrimination and Mental Health in Our Community</a>&nbsp;study.
</div>
</div>

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Stepping Up: Being an ally in the workplace  

For decades, systemic racism and other inequities went largely unremarked in workspaces. That began to change after the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Organizations emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and sought to hire more people from historically underrepresented groups, including women and people of color.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
However, a <a href="https://www.catalyst.org/reports/antiracism-workplace-leadership/">recent survey</a> of racialized women across five countries and multiple industries suggests limited progress. The survey found:&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Half (51%) of women from marginalized racial and ethnic groups experience racism at work&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Women with darker skin tones are more likely than women with lighter skin tones to experience racism at work&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Trans women and queer women are more likely than cisgender heterosexual women to experience racism at work&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Why is meaningful change at work hard to come by? And what can be done to make workplaces better for everyone?&nbsp;&nbsp;

The disconnect&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
For several reasons, greater representation isn&rsquo;t leading to more inclusive and equitable workplaces. In most organizations, managers and leaders have left DEI efforts in the hands of human resources instead of using their power and privilege within an organization to bring about change. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/socf.12148">Research</a> says a disconnect is at play: leaders insist their organizations are gender and color-blind, while employees say discrimination and mistreatment at work are <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30055-9/fulltext">eroding mental health</a> and leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;DEI is important, but many organizations create their own approaches, don&rsquo;t test their efficacy, and don&rsquo;t measure metrics that are indicative of true change toward equity,&rdquo; says <a href="https://bethalivingston.com/">Beth Livingston</a>, research professor at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and co-author of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.drtinaopie.com/sharedsisterhoodbook">Shared Sisterhood</a>,&rdquo; a book on fighting racial and gender inequities at work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote>
41% of Americans are unconvinced that systemic racism exists in the U.S.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
27% of White Americans strongly disagree that workplace discrimination is not a problem compared to 43 percent of Black Americans&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Source: <a href="https://theharrispoll.com/briefs/america-this-week-wave-142/">Harris Poll</a>
</blockquote>

Becoming a true ally&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Denying racial and gender discrimination and avoiding uncomfortable conversations is not the answer to achieving workplace equity. Instead, meaningful and sustainable change can only happen if everyone bands together and acknowledges their power while advocating for a culture of trust and accountability, says Livingston.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We need collective efforts to develop, evaluate, and implement changes in organizations and for these organizations to admit that such change is hard,&rdquo; she adds. &ldquo;We need leaders to show vulnerability and take risks to create real change.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This form of activism, where people from a privileged social group work with someone who is not a part of that group to achieve social justice, is known as allyship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This term grew in popularity over the summer of 2020 when people used it on social media to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. But, despite its widespread use, allyship is misunderstood.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Taking a stance on social media or posting an inclusion statement on the company website isn&rsquo;t enough. True allyship is about talking the talk and walking the walk. It&rsquo;s about actions, behaviors, and practices that will elevate and uplift those who have been left out, discriminated against, and marginalized, and not about labeling yourself an ally.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can do this in several ways:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Educate yourself on experiences, issues, and challenges faced by women and people of color&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Examine and acknowledge your privileges, such as race, class, gender, or ability, by looking inward&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Commit to learning by accepting feedback on how you can be a better ally&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">If you see discrimination or inequitable policies and practices, call them out&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
None of this is easy, but there are books like Livingston&rsquo;s or &ldquo;How to Be an Ally&rdquo; by Melinda Briana Epler of <a href="https://changecatalyst.co/about-change-catalyst/">Change Catalyst</a> and programs like Lean In&rsquo;s <a href="https://leanin.org/allyship-at-work">Allyship at Work</a> that can help you learn to be a better ally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Better together&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Achieving equity in the workplace is an enormous challenge, but allyship offers everyone an opportunity to learn, grow, and lead the change. &ldquo;When coalitions are built on authentic connections across differences, they are better able to sustain against the setbacks and challenges that seeking equity always presents,&rdquo; says Livingston.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Allyship not only promotes a culture of safety and inclusion in the workplace, but has other benefits, too &mdash; it has <a href="https://changecatalyst.co/allyshipreport/">been shown</a> to improve productivity, offer a greater sense of belonging, and alleviate burnout among employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Everyone has a part to play in addressing workplace inequities, and we all stand to benefit from an inclusive work culture that prioritizes the well-being and success of people. Take the first step towards change by becoming an ally.&nbsp;
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