We Decoded The Gender Alphabet At Ungender’s First Offline Event!

Focus 

Though  Indian workplaces of today are focusing on gender diversity and inclusion, we find that they are continuously struggling with its implementation.  Despite all the activities and debates on inclusion of different genders in workplaces, we are still missing the mark on the correct formula to ensure talent attraction, retention, and growth in workplaces at a large level.  In our continuous attempt to build a structured understanding of what true ‘gender diversity’ is and how inclusion can happen for all members of an organization, we kickstarted our first offline conversation in line with our upcoming event series focusing on different aspects of gender & inclusion. 

This conversation was designed to decode the different letters of the gender and sexuality spectrum and establish a foundational understanding that organizations need before they devise their gender inclusion strategy. We discussed the methodology to bring about a cultural change in our efforts to create a safe space. We also addressed issues of sub/un-conscious bias, bystander intervention contributing towards prevention, and redressal of gender-based discrimination and harassment at workplaces. Lastly, we established a streamlined approach that is needed in  achieving true gender inclusion and diversity.  

Subject Matter Expert 

Ungender’s Pallavi Pareek was joined by Suresh Ramdas who is the India LGBTQ Lead for HP. He in the list of Top 50 OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leaders of the world, 2019 presented by INvolve. 

With motivation sprinkled to his core strength, he started the HP India Pride Business Impact Network as the only open gay man in late 2016. In 2018, he attended the LGBTQ Executive 

Leadership Program at Stanford because he believes that India now needs LGBTQ leaders in the corporate space to be change-makers.  He is the co-founder of Working With Pride, India’s first Inter-company alliance on Inclusive collaborations and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. He also started a Leadership Program called Leading with Pride in collaboration with Dwight Cook from Working with Pride.  

To add another feather in his cap, Suresh is the winner of Mr. Gay India 2019. He represented India at the Mr. Gay World event where he was one of the top 10 contestants. In both the events, he was working on a campaign called “Corporate Trans Inclusion” and also on how to create an environment of Equity. He continues to use this position to bring about a change and make a difference in the corporate sector as well as at the grassroots. 

Needless to say, that with Suresh as our guest in those high heels, the vibrant and diverse crowd full of questions and opinions, and ungendered questions, the discussion provided more than what we had aimed for. 

 Our un-gendered conversation

We discussed a plethora of issues ranging from Inclusion and Diversity to how governments and Corporates can understand the issue better and work towards achieving the goal of creating a truly diverse ecosystem. Our discussion can be summarized in the following points: 

1. Understanding the diversity and inclusion era of India Inc. – What is happening and where are we getting it all wrong in the narrative;
2.  Dissecting India Inc.’s standing on inclusivity efforts; 
3.  A reality check on our understanding of gender and sexuality spectrum;  
4. Do corporates need to collect individual information on their gender and sexuality? What should be given importance to and what are the ways to collect this information?
5. Where should Corporates start? Even though the primary responsibility is always on the leadership, what role do HR and other functional leaders play? How does individual responsibility play towards this inclusion culture?

With Suresh sharing his life journey and internal growth through the different stages of his life, our discussion, well contributed by the audience led to several conclusive understandings on the subject. As a group, we came out wiser and definitely more inclusive in our individual thought processes.  

Takeaways

In Suresh’s words, “the concept and the execution of the event was a great effort. It is a good initiative to spread awareness around the LGBTQ+ Community for workplaces. The conversation around intersectionality in the gender space is very important to be discussed and the “Ungender” team was successful in starting that.”

Our audience who came from different walks of life and fields of work provided us with these wonderful insights and takeaways they had from the event – 

 Inclusivity and sensitivity to people who have been “other-ed” inadvertently are so much more than just being accepting and welcoming. Understanding how even the smallest inconsequential procedural things have an impact on the lives of people shows how interlaced issues of inclusivity and sensitivity are to the very fabric of what makes us human. The event brought up many such minutiae of life that affect people who have excluded all their lives of which I had no idea and I’m very grateful for the new insights gained.  

Sidharth Kamat, International Trade and Customs lawyer. 

 My biggest takeaway from the talk was how approachable the topics of gender and sexuality can be made in the workplace. I loved that the speakers strayed away from academic language and just made it so simple to understand the gender dynamics in everyday life and how pertinent it actually is to have diversity and inclusivity in life in general.

Ankita Kumar, Travel Content Creator 

 The event organised by Ungender gave me insight into how workspaces can be more gender inclusive without it turning into tokenism.  The discussions and the interactive session helped me look at politics and representation in a new way. I even learned how I as an individual can do so much more to make people feel included.

Sadhvi Himatsingka, Independent corporate lawyer 

The event was an eye-opener, which expanded our intellectual horizon and provided me with a new perspective that I had not thought about in the past. The concept of inclusivity and emphasis on oneness irrespective of your identity in the society was the best takeaway from the event. Another important takeaway was conceptualizing the meaning of equality and justice and how everyone can be treated as one, creating a discrimination-free environment in workplace/Educational institution. On a personal note, I learned how I can empower my fellow peers and how the same can be implemented in a professional atmosphere. It was a fruitful session.  

Naman Vankdari, Student, University Law College 

Way ahead

This is the first step in our series of conversations lined up from now on. As more and more individuals and decision-makers join this discussion, we intend to convert workplaces to become Inclusive and Diverse in their workforce, culture, and conversations. If you would like to be part of our future events, do provide us with your details here and we will make sure that we do not miss out in the future.