“STILL SHE RISES: REWRITING THE WORKPLACE STORY FOR EVERY WOMAN”

01.08.25 05:16 AM - By Women Solidarity Initiative Uganda

For generations, women have stepped into the workplace with dreams in their hearts and fire in their souls, only to encounter silence where credit is due, bias dressed up as feedback, and doors that refused to open. From wage gaps to being passed over for leadership roles, from enduring microaggressions to juggling invisible labour with little recognition, the journey has often felt uphill. And yet, still, she rises.

The “Her Work, Her Worth” campaign by WSI recently concluded, called upon women to share the challenges they’ve faced in the workplace. The stories as you would imagine come in with each one layered with pain, resilience, and unwavering hope. There are tales of dismissal, not just from jobs, but from potential. Of ideas stolen and voices silenced. Of maternity turned into penalty. Of being told to "tone it down" when confident, and "smile more" when serious. But also, there are stories of pushing back. Of daring to take up space. Of rewriting norms and bringing others along.

It was launched to confront this enduring disparity, creating a platform for women to share their lived experiences in the workplace. A timely intervention acknowledging that women’s experiences in the workplace are not just abstract issues, but are also daily realities that affect livelihoods, mental health, and long-term economic security.

The Layers of Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination wears many layers. It hides in who is invited to speak. Sometimes it’s the overt sexism that questions a woman’s capability. Other times it’s quieter, in policies that look neutral on paper but punish women in practice. It is a project reassigned without reason, a promotion that mysteriously vanishes, or a decision made in a room where she’s conveniently left out.

And the impact is far-reaching. Beyond just lost opportunities, these injustices chip away at self-worth and financial independence. They delay dreams, and in some cases, extinguish them altogether. But change is possible. That is the good news, that work places are not fixed things. They are living, changing, and re-shapeable.

Driving Change: Key Interventions and Accountability

1. Government Bodies Must Lead by Example
Governments must not only enforce existing gender equality laws but also strengthen them. Labour policies need to reflect the modern challenges women face, from safeguarding against sexual harassment to offering flexible maternity and paternity leave policies that promote shared caregiving. Governments must move beyond policy formulation and demonstrate a consistent, measurable commitment to implementation. While many gender equality laws exist on paper, enforcement remains a major gap.

Institutions must proactively audit gender pay gaps and demand transparency in promotion pathways, especially within public service and parastatals. Representation on boards and executive positions should be tracked and where women are missing, deliberate room should be created for them to lead.

2. Employers Must Build Equitable Cultures

Companies must move beyond tokenism. Diversity and inclusion shouldn’t be buzzwords in glossy brochures but living principles embedded in recruitment, training, and leadership development. Workplaces should be safe, respectful, and supportive for every woman, whether she’s fresh out of school, balancing work and motherhood, or aiming for the C-suite.
Accountability matters. That means anonymous reporting systems, independent HR procedures, and most importantly consequences for those that fail women in the workplace.
3. Men Must Become Allies, Not Bystanders
Achieving workplace equity is not, and cannot be a challenge shouldered by women alone. Men have a critical role to play as active allies who go beyond passive support. This means using their influence in boardrooms and meetings to advocate for fair treatment and opportunities for women, calling out bias when they see it, and ensuring women’s voices are heard and respected. Allyship also involves mentoring with genuine intention, free from prejudice or assumptions, and championing women’s professional growth.

Equity starts at home too. Sharing caregiving and domestic responsibilities allows women to engage fully and confidently in their careers without being forced to choose between work and family. Silence or inaction from men is complicity in maintaining unequal systems. We need men who step up, not just cheer from the sidelines, and who recognize that true progress depends on partnership, not spectatorship.

4. Advocate for the girl who reminds you of your younger self

For women who have navigated systemic barriers to advance in their careers, the journey does not end with personal success, it begins a new chapter of responsibility and leadership. Holding the door open for others means actively mentoring those who are still finding their way, sponsoring colleagues for opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, and sharing knowledge candidly and generously.
Women Solidarity Initiative Uganda

Women Solidarity Initiative Uganda

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