2 Reflecting on gender and time
The previous section introduced you to research on how gender affects the time and effort individuals are expected to dedicate to different activities in our society. This builds on ideas explored in earlier units, where we examined how unequal distributions of domestic and emotional labour affect people’s experiences of online work. You then looked at ways you could help address these disparities by thinking in more detail about whether calling a meeting is necessary or not.
Activity 2 provides further opportunity to reflect on the relationship between gender and time and how these inequalities relate to your own work context.
Activity 2 Reflecting on gender and time
a.
They have multiple work and personal responsibilities that compete for their time.
b.
They prefer to avoid meetings to focus on other activities.
c.
They are not interested in the topics being discussed.
d.
They sometimes schedule overlapping commitments.
The correct answer is a.
Feedback
Multiple work and personal responsibilities can limit a person’s availability for long meetings. This highlights the importance of being mindful of everyone’s time and considering alternative ways to share information or make decisions when possible.
a.
To make meetings more inclusive and equitable.
b.
To reduce unnecessary costs for the company.
c.
So that people can leave work earlier.
d.
To avoid overburdening participants with heavier workloads.
The correct answer is a.
Feedback
Managing time well during meetings helps make them more inclusive and equitable, ensuring that all participants can contribute fully without feeling rushed or overlooked.
a.
Establish norms to ensure all participants can contribute without interruptions.
b.
Schedule meetings outside of standard working hours.
c.
Avoid rotating leadership roles in meetings.
d.
Prolong meetings so that everyone participates.
The correct answer is a.
Feedback
Establishing norms that ensure all participants can contribute without interruptions helps make meetings more equitable, giving everyone a fair chance to share their ideas.
a.
They have more time for participants’ personal activities.
b.
They can increase participants' workload and make balancing tasks more difficult.
c.
They can express themselves more freely in the workplace.
d.
There is no impact on participants' day-to-day life.
The correct answer is b.
Feedback
Poorly managed meetings can increase participants’ workloads and make it harder for them to balance tasks, impacting both productivity and work-life balance. While some options may seem plausible, the main consequence of poorly managed meetings is that they add stress and reduce efficiency, making it more difficult for participants to manage their responsibilities effectively.
a.
Allow only the most experienced participants to speak.
b.
Prolong the duration of meetings to ensure everyone participates.
c.
Ensure that all voices are heard and respected without interruptions.
d.
Make meetings longer but less frequent.
The correct answer is c.
Feedback
Ensuring that all voices are heard and respected without interruptions helps make meetings more equitable, fostering inclusive discussions where everyone can contribute. Equitable meetings require active facilitation and respect for all participants’ contributions.
Having explored important factors that affect co-workers’ availability and inclusion in meetings, you can now apply these insights in the next activity.
1.1 Meeting or email?