What are College Women Searching for in the Professional World?
Guest feature by Sydney Little
In 2023, the Women’s Fund released a report that evaluated the role of gender in Allen County workplaces, focusing on the good and the bad of existing as a woman in the local workforce. Many employers are dedicated to providing safe and inclusive work environments, and policies are constantly being improved to offer women more equitable opportunities. However, concerns for equality are still prominent as young women are entering the professional world. As a young woman in college, I can attest to the existence of those fears – and so can countless other college-aged girls in Indiana.
I surveyed 27 female-identifying individuals* between the ages of 17 and 22, all of whom are pursuing at least one undergraduate degree. Their fields of study varied greatly, with four participants going into legal services, six participants studying various medical and healthcare paths, and the other seventeen participants listing completely different career fields ranging from advertising to acting. Although the list of interests and intended careers were diverse, the survey found that all of the participants had similar responses when asked about the qualities they search for in a potential employer.
What are you looking for in a potential employer when it comes to how they support women in the workplace?
More than 70% of the participants stated that they are looking for equal and fair wages, equal opportunity for advancement and growth, and female representation in leadership positions. Over half of the responses also placed value on an organization’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all identities. According to our Women in the Workplace study, women make up 77.8% of the bottom 10% of salaries in Allen County, in addition to making up only 38.7% of leadership roles. When applied to Allen County’s population of women of color (WOC), the statistics are even more severe.
Some common themes in the survey responses included the need for support and respect as well as a commitment to understanding the need for gender equity. At least 80% of the participants mentioned they are searching for a workplace that is supportive and encouraging of women in the same way they support and encourage men. Over 33% of responses also cited a need for benefits and policies that allow women to care for their families without being penalized, including during the time of pregnancy. This falls in line with the Women in the Workplace report which shows that less than half of the surveyed employers offer services or strategies that promote equitable workplaces for women, such as paid family leave and family care flexibility.
What changes would you like to see?
The need for understanding and respect are some of the key characteristics sought after by college-age women entering the workforce, with the hope that an employer’s effort to understand the importance of gender equity will be reflected in the work environment regardless of the field. Several of the participants communicated a strong desire for stricter harassment policies that ensure fast, effective, and serious responses when it comes to the safety and well-being of not only women in the workplace but all employees who have expressed concern. While most organizations have such policies in place already, it is clear that there is a greater need for following those guidelines more firmly.
Nearly half of the respondents indicated that the biggest change they would like to see moving forward is greater female representation at all levels of their specific vocations, whether that be leadership positions, entry-level positions, or anywhere in between. The term “male-dominated” was used four times in the survey responses, an adjective that can be incredibly off-putting for women and even intimidating at times due to the term’s association with reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Women are underrepresented in the professional world, as can be seen in the Women in the Workplace statistics, but many young women are advocating for change.
Of the 27 people surveyed, more than 25% revealed that they are unaware of any current support for women in their respective fields of study. The Women in the Workplace report is the first of its kind to be published in Allen County in over fifty years. If we don’t actively measure the components that influence a woman’s ability to thrive professionally, how are we expected to fix any problems? Throughout the process of collecting data for the report, it was also discovered that “the younger workforce places even higher importance on equitable, supportive, and inclusive workplaces” in comparison to older generations, which can also be seen in each of the 27 survey responses I collected, in addition to my own personal experiences. At the end of the day, if employers don’t start taking the concerns of young women more seriously they risk losing more than half of Allen County’s college-age working population. Luckily, the right steps are being taken and the survey responses seem hopeful for a more supportive and inclusive professional future.
*One respondent identifies as gender-queer, using the pronouns They/She. Their input is included in the 27 responses.