Gender inequality in Project Management

Interesting Maria - Do you believe there is gender inequality in project management ? Can you elaborate ?

@Rami, Based on my personal experience...

At the moment that a hiring manager says to me: "I know that I can't ask that, but, you know, this is a very important IT project, and, you know, I need to ensure my resources, and sorry for ask and please don't answer you don't want...Are you thinking about getting pregnant in the next months?"

Have you ever heard this? I have men friends project managers that never heard this question. Nobody asks a guy, hey, do you want to be a dad in next months?

From my point of view, there is inequality not only in project management, in a lot of other professions. There are a lot of salary reports show that women salary are less than men (also in project management if you'll check the last survey) same position, same experience...

Was only in 1920 that the women can vote in the USA, 1931 in Spain. There are only three countries New Zealand (1893), Australia (1902) and Finland where women have been able to vote for more than a century.

Do you think that in less than hundred years we already have the gender equality? I don't think so, step by step, we can get it, but there is a lot of work to do.

I respect your opinion and agree with you somehow but not fully.

Nowadays, gender equality is much and I mean much more better than before - In project management (At least here in Canada), I know many women who are PM's and their salaries are extremely well.

On the other hand, getting pregnant is a personal matter and this question should not be asked but at the same time, if you put yourself in the employer's place, you realize that getting pregnant means maternity leave for at least 3 months - As a company owner, you need to assess the overall situation.

Maria, I know there is absolutely lingering bias against women in the workplace (much of it coming from women, by the way), but I hope you have a good HR department or an attorney if you're getting questions like that at work. Asking such questions opens employers up to a variety of discrimination suits under different laws, such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978) and the Family Medical Leave Act (1993).

While I'm playing amateur attorney, let's be careful with some of the calls for salary research. Yes, it'd be nice to show how project managers are paid and whether we're an equal profession, but groups can (and have) run afoul of the Federal Trade Commission (US) for perceived antitrust concerns if they survey and publish salaries. There are ways of doing this legally, obviously, but I wouldn't wade into those waters without professionals. I also have no idea what the requirements are in other nations.

Cristal clear that is much better than before, but I think that there are a lot to do.

Only for your info, the longest maternity and paternity leave in Europe is Sweden, with 480 days (16 months). The father is obliged to take less than 60 days + 10 working days from birth. But there is completely accepted and understand that men will leave the job, and there are no prejudices or company owners that think about these matters.

Cultural differences in different countries are key, to understand inequality gender inequality.

I'll work to make the world where the future generations don't have to answer this kind of questions, because in the moment that the question exists, is because of the topic exist.

Yes, In principal I agree that those questions should not be asked at all. It is very personal.

16 Months Maternity leave in Europe - That's new information to me.

Hi Maria,
Here, Quebec, Canada, the parenting leave can be taken or split between parents. I don't think that make gender inequality disappear.
I know in some European country, some people mainly women don't talk about their children. To avoid discrimination on getting promotion!
Some field have more discrimination than other, many company have policy that promote equal opportunity.
Yes it is improving. maybe not fast enough !

@Anupam, I've worked in Big organizations and that's true, they believe, promote and it's a very serious topic. Outside of bigs, I only shared my concerns because not always happen.