When the news of the Supreme Court leak hit last week, my intentions of writing to you about introverted leadership faded, and I found myself researching the impacts of the potential ruling.
Over the past several years, companies have taken stands regarding race and gender identity. Many companies are offering parental leave that extends beyond the mother and beyond birth. Yet, when this issue came to a head. Crickets. Very few organizations are voicing any opinion in the wake of the information detailed in the Politico article.
Women’s health is critical to any work environment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, 57.4% of all women participated in the labor force, and as of December 2019, women held 50.04% of jobs in the United States.
What can leaders do? What should leaders do? LISTEN. If you are uncomfortable taking a stand or making your opinion known. LISTEN. This issue is complex, and there is fear. Louisiana lawmakers are already authoring legislation that could criminalize some forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization by defining a fertilized egg before implantation as a person, according to various news sources.
Women’s reproductive care is complex and fraught with challenges. Upon sharing my own experiences attempting to secure the birth control I wanted, I was shocked at the number of women who responded, echoing their own struggles.
Although the Supreme Court ruling is said to shift legislation on reproduction to the states, away from the federal level, 13 states already have trigger laws in place if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
No one knows what is going to happen. People’s feelings are valid. The wonderful thing about listening is you can listen with empathy regardless of your own feelings. You can show compassion and acknowledge someone even if you do not share their feelings.
If you are a leader or a decision-maker and want to support choice, QZ.com posted an article listing companies who are actively supporting choice that provides a brief synopsis of what companies including Amazon, Levi’s, Salesforce, Uber, Lyft, and GoDaddy are doing.
I do not pretend to know the answers here, but I believe we need to be having conversations, even if those conversations are uncomfortable. An issue that dramatically affects half the population physically and the other half by proximity cannot be ignored due to discomfort.
Kaelin Peterson has a B.A. in Political Science, an MBA, and is currently pursuing an EdD in Performance Improvement Leadership. She currently works as faculty for a non-traditional university focusing on traditionally underserved student populations while also volunteering with a focus on leadership development, values-based leadership, and change management. When not working or doing school work, Kaelin enjoys discovering new foods, quiet spaces, and spending time with her husband and dog.
