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Check out the latest Staffmark timely articles, news, and stay informed about our latest innovations, awards, service lines, and more.
News + Events
Check out the latest Staffmark timely articles, news, and stay informed about our latest innovations, awards, service lines, and more.
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Cincinnati, OH, March 5, 2025
Accelerate Action: Why We Can’t Afford to Wait on Gender Equity
When I was in third grade in Columbia, South Carolina, I was fast—really fast. I loved to race, and I wasn’t afraid to line up against the boys. I still remember one particular 100-meter sprint, flying across the finish line, coming in first again. I wasn’t the type of kid to make a big deal out of it. I quietly walked off the track, feeling good but keeping it to myself.
And then I heard it.
A father, consoling his son who had just lost to me, said dismissively, “Don’t worry about it. She’s just some girl.”
I remember how that moment deflated me. I had outrun my competitors fair and square, but suddenly, my win didn’t count. My speed, effort, and success were all minimized, simply because I was a girl.
That was my first real lesson in gender bias, and even as a child, I understood something was off. But here’s the thing: That wasn’t just about me. That was a moment so many women and girls have faced in different forms. The message, whether said outright or implied, has always been: You’re good, but not as good. You’re strong, but not strong enough. You belong here, but only up to a point.
But the truth? We don’t have time to entertain these outdated narratives anymore.
What Gender Equity Looks Like in 2025
International Women’s Day 2025 theme is Accelerate Action—because we’re past the point of waiting. Progress has never happened by hoping for the best; it happens when we intentionally, urgently, and collectively push forward.
The reality is, we’re still seeing significant gaps:
- Women earn about 82 cents to every dollar a man earns in the U.S., and for women of color, the gap is even wider.
- Women are underrepresented in leadership—while they make up nearly half of the workforce, they hold only 10% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies.
- The pandemic set women’s careers back significantly, with caregiving responsibilities disproportionately falling on them. Many are still recovering from that economic hit.
- Bias in hiring, promotions, and workplace culture continues to limit opportunities. And when women do get into leadership, they’re often held to impossible standards.
And yet, despite all this, women continue to show up, lead, innovate, and excel.
We Can’t Wait: The Urgency of Now
Gender equity isn’t about taking something from one group and giving it to another. It’s about recognizing that the systems we’ve inherited weren’t built with women—especially women of color, LGBTQ+ women, disabled women, and other marginalized groups—in mind. That’s not a personal failing, but it is a structural one. And structural problems require action.
So, what does that action look like, not just at a high level but in the real, everyday decisions we make?
Accelerating Action: What You Can Do
Here’s where we get real. Gender equity isn’t just a corporate initiative—it’s a personal commitment. Here are practical ways we can all push forward:
At Work:
- Challenge biases in hiring and promotions. Look at who’s getting opportunities—and who’s being overlooked. If you’re a decision-maker, advocate for equitable hiring and pay practices.
- Make space, then step back. If you’re in meetings, notice who’s speaking (and who’s interrupted). Be intentional about amplifying women’s voices.
- Support policies that help women thrive. Paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, and mentorship programs aren’t just ‘nice to have’—they’re necessary for real equity.
- Mentor and sponsor women. Don’t just give advice—actively advocate for women in your workplace. Bring their names into rooms where decisions are made.
- Address the ‘double burden.’ Women often take on more unpaid emotional labor in workplaces (DEI work, event planning, mentorship). Acknowledge it, compensate it, and distribute the work fairly.
In Your Personal Life:
- Call out everyday sexism. That joke, that assumption, that offhand comment—it all matters. Challenge it, even when it feels small.
- Model gender equity in relationships. Whether it’s at home, with friends, or in social spaces, rethink how labor (physical and emotional) is divided.
- Teach kids early. Show young girls their worth. Teach young boys that equality isn’t a threat—it’s a shared benefit.
- Support women-owned businesses. Not just in March – all year. Put your money where your values are.
- Stay informed and speak up. Read, learn, and use your voice to push for policies that support gender equity.
How We’re Accelerating Action at Staffmark Group
At Staffmark Group, we’re not just talking about gender equity—we’re actively building it into our culture.
We were recognized on Newsweek’s 2024 list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women and named one of the 2024 Best Staffing Firms for Women—a testament to our ongoing commitment to supporting women in the workplace.
Our Women’s Business Resource Group (BRG) is our largest BRG—a thriving community focused on advocacy, mentorship, and opportunity. But our success isn’t just about one group; it’s about a winning culture that fosters collaboration, equity, and impact at every level.
Our parent company, RGF Connect, has an incredible Developing Female Leaders Mentoring Program, which is both transformative and impactful, ensuring that women have strong pathways into leadership.
And when it comes to leadership? Over 60% of Staffmark Group’s leadership roles—across both upper and lower levels—are held by women. That’s not just progress; that’s outpacing the industry standard.
The Bottom Line
That third-grade race I ran? I won it fair and square. And if I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be this:
“Your win matters. Your work matters. Your voice matters. And no one gets to tell you otherwise.”
That’s the same message we need to carry into 2025. This is not the time to slow down, to wait for change to happen on its own. This is the time to accelerate. To push harder, move faster, and create workplaces and communities where gender equity isn’t just an ideal—it’s a reality.
Let’s run this race together. And this time, let’s make sure everyone’s win counts.
Author
Ashley Oliver
Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
