Gender Equality By Design

Gender equality is a business imperative. In both the developed and developing world, women’s economic inclusion yields high returns. Nevertheless, equality is not a magic bullet automatically leading to economic progress. That is why its case must rest on an ethical and moral argument. It is the right thing to do.

But unconscious bias can hold us back in eliminating gender-based inequality, and de-biasing people’s minds has proven difficult. Diversity training programs have had limited success, and individual effort alone often invites backlash. Behavioural design offers a new solution. By de-biasing organisations instead of individuals, we can make smart changes that have big impacts.

At the RSA, Iris Bohnet, professor of public policy at Harvard University, demonstrates the tools we need to ‘move the needle’ on gender, from classrooms to boardrooms, and offers new research-based solutions for improving businesses, governments and people’s lives.