'It was demoralizing. It's not appropriate to be talking to women about their appearance and much less so during a crisis.'
While Caroline was trying to establish a strict work-life balance — despite rarely leaving her apartment — she still found herself mindlessly checking her emails ahead of the week. That's when she noticed a message pop up from her executive director.
In the email, which was addressed to the entire company, her boss provided tips and resources for"looking good on video calls" — from lighting and backgrounds to personal hygiene. While his advice to invest in an advanced webcam setup infuriated Caroline , she was most bewildered by his suggestion to wear makeup."While it'd be bad advice at any time for playing into sexism, it just felt incredibly tone-deaf during this particular time," she tells.
While this discourse would be inappropriate at any time, it's especially harmful during periods of high anxiety."Criticism over our appearance when we're juggling so much can affect morale in any team member, but women are at the receiving end of this type of criticism in a disproportionate way — pandemic or no pandemic," says
."Focusing on appearance beyond professional attire can create a toxic environment that will stunt the growth of team members and add an obstacle to what they can contribute to a company.""Criticizing looks or lighting can take up unnecessary mental space and corrode the confidence of employees who are already balancing a lot.
Dr. Hafeez also spotlights the double standard this expectation holds for women, and how it can impact them long after the pandemic."The focus on looks, particularly in women in professional settings, can wear down self-confidence and even peer perception of their leadership and results, which can affect their career path, their confidence to apply for higher roles, and their fulfillment within a company," she says.
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