International Women’s Day 2022

Andra Antone, Senior Architect

At Ryder, we acknowledge that the status quo around gender equality is not good enough – that it is not enough to tell ourselves that we are not a part of the problem.

Gender bias is more than just about feeling guilty, but feeling responsible and empowered in a sexist world to take action to dismantle systemic inequality.  To mark International Women’s Day, we have invited our people to share their personal or professional journeys, whether as a mother, daughter, son, mentor or colleague.  We will continue to work to become allies against all forms of discrimination and abuse, and in doing so, become a positive role model for others.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but the necessary foundation to achieve a thriving and sustainable world.  The patriarchal system has historically placed utmost importance in masculine attributes.  It is a system of society and governance in which men retain power and women are largely excluded from it.  Gender inequality is a systemic and global social problem.

Unfortunately, there is a passiveness around engagement with gender inequality, which inadvertently implies that this is about women.  This incorrect assumption assumes women are responsible for the work that needs to be done to bring about the change of culture and dissuades men from engaging with the conversation.  Girls and women fundamentally need male allies to solve this problem.  If we are serious about addressing this, it will require introspection and action on the part of men as well as women and others, not just as individuals, but as members of the society that are promoting a set of values and ideas about manhood, power, control and sexual entitlement.

Dan Mossman, Architect

Reflecting on International Women’s Day is so important as we move towards greater equality, diversity and inclusion in today’s society.  For men that believe in feminism and reducing discrimination, allyship and activism are our tools to benefit everyone.

A man’s voice is louder in certain environments, the construction industry being a great example.  Speaking out against sexist acts and talk that portrays women in damaging ways is obvious and should be done at every opportunity.  Our less obvious tool is to not use our voice, but to listen.  I will never be able to understand what a woman’s career is like and the experiences they endure which set us apart, but the first step is to acknowledge my privilege and listen to those experiences without judgement.  It is then that I can effectively develop my thinking and behaviour, adding a very small step towards a world where women have the same rights and opportunities as men.

Ruth French, Associate

Last year Ryder introduced optional pronouns as part of our email signatures. While as a cisgender woman I wholly support this as an important part of inclusion in business, I have to admit I had to do some soul searching as to whether in a professional context I wanted to shout about my gender in every email I send.

My upbringing was strongly about women’s empowerment, my parents promoted a culture that their two daughters should never feel that they can’t do anything because of their gender, but this stance perhaps made me very aloof to gender issues in a construction industry.  Early in my career I actively shunned women focused events, would get angry that we had to have women only awards, and there have been instances where I brushed off sexist remarks as jovial office banter.

I realise now that this was a mistake and in fact equity is far more powerful than equality.  I also sadly realised that my childhood experience is not one shared across globe, we just look at events in Afghanistan over the last year to recognise that women’s freedoms remain a luxury rather than right.

Today I stand before you a hopefully a more rounded role model to the several young women, who I am thrilled to mentor.  Their passion and enthusiasm for the career opportunities in construction makes me extremely proud.  I hope even to those who don’t personally know me, they see a confident businesswoman and may be inspired not to worry about barriers but look to shape their own successes.

Constance Ho, Senior Interior Designer

Being a woman to me means being powerful, supportive and valuable.  Different aspects of my life make me proud of who I am.  I am a mother and a worker like many others nowadays.  From my ten years plus work experience in Hong Kong, my employers would not discriminate to employ someone just because they are female.  As a work mom, I feel lucky at Ryder with its flexible work arrangement especially during this pandemic situation… numerous hectic mornings with my daughter, getting her ready for Zoom classes, picking up homework from her school before going to office.   Somehow that makes me even more productive as all I am focused on is getting things done so I can go home to see my daughter before she goes to bed.

It might be a cultural thing that some people still think women belong in the kitchen.  That gives women here even more responsibility.  I have seen a colleague finish her lunch in ten minutes just so she can head out to get ingredients for cooking dinner after her long day at work.  What I always see is the ability over responsibility.  I believe in today’s business environment, there are no tasks that only men or women could do.  Recently, my colleague asked if anyone in the office knew how to reload paper into the big plotter and I did it!  I did not think that it was a man’s job, instead I believed in my ability.  Some say women are emotional, I would say women are more expressive.  Women are fun, intelligent and wonderful.  Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all women to be yourself unapologetically and live your life beautifully.

Nyangu Bakare, Receptionist

On this International Women’s Day, I would like to honour a woman who has had a strong influence upon my life and has been my greatest inspiration, my mother.  In the early years of my life, I was raised by my grandmother in Zambia, after my mother had decided to relocate to the UK to seek out a better life for us.  I joined her as soon as I was able to.

As a migrant and working single mother with a limited support network, she navigated life one day at a time, whilst also dealing with financial and legal struggles of a new country. Despite her challenges, she succeeded in acquiring British citizenship, buying a house and becoming mortgage free all on her own.

Having just become a mother myself, I now truly understand and appreciate all her sacrifice.  So, this year, I celebrate my mother and all working mothers – selfless, devoted, loving, courageous, strong, and persevering.