DEBORAH STONE: 10% of women and 20% of LGBTQ+ employees in NSW Jewish organisations say they have been harassed at work. Even more have experienced discrimination. The Social Justice Summit will address the problems.
One in 10 women and one in five LGBTQ+ people who work in NSW Jewish community organisations have reported experiencing some form of gender-based harassment in their organisation.
And almost one in five women and almost a third of LGBTQ+ said gender-based discrimination had impacted their work or career.
These are some of the key findings from a survey, Leading the Change to Gender Equity in Jewish Leadership, commissioned for the Social Justice Summit 2022 , which will be held on August 28 at Emanuel Synagogue.
The summit will hear full findings from the survey and will include roundtable discussions on how to address the problems that the survey identifies.
The survey revealed that, while a large majority of respondents believe gender equality is valued in their organisations and that gender discrimination and sexual harassment are not tolerated, the actual experience of women and LGBTQ+ people was much more problematic.
Of the 10% of women, and 20% of LGBTQ+ people who reported experiencing some form of gender-based harassment, the most common forms were intrusive questions about private life or physical appearance, sexually suggestive jokes or comments and unwelcome touching, hugging and other physical contact.
Almost one in five women and almost a third of LGBTQ+ said gender-based discrimination had impacted their work or career. Problems included lack of flexible working arrangements being offered, not being listened to and not being offered the same opportunities to advance in their career.
Board members are often oblivious to problems identified by employees or volunteers working in their organisations.
