When US fashion blogger and former reality TV star Lauren Conrad appeared on a US radio show in 2012, she was asked about her "favourite position" by a listener. Unimpressed and slightly embarrassed by the question, Conrad finally replied, "CEO".
The radio program’s host Sway Calloway immediately praised her response, saying: "CEO, I like that!"
In a 2012 survey by the Human Rights Commission, about one in five women over the age of 15 have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.
According to a 2013 Committee for Economic Development of Australia report, more than 50 per cent of women in the business community have been discriminated against at work because of their gender. As of January 2014, only 17.6 per cent of appointments to ASX200 boards were women.
"Gender inequality is being increasingly recognised, both in Australia and internationally as an important issue that has a profound impact on societies, as well as the individual lives of men and women, from social, economic and health perspectives," said Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick in a speech earlier this year.
"Gender inequality is embedded in the attitudes and behaviours as well as in the structural barriers – which if we are to change requires us to address the negative gender stereotypes and the systemic disadvantage women experience."
In response to Conrad’s interview question and the prevailing gender gap, US-based publication Mic.com asked women from varying careers to tell the world their “favourite position” via the hashtag #myfavouritepositionis.
“You don't need to be famous (or work for former American Apparel CEO Dov Charney) to put up with sexually charged work environments,” wrote Mic journalist Elizabeth Plank.
"Indeed, the phenomenon isn't an exception anymore; as these examples show, it's becoming too often the rule… It's about time all employees are judged on their ability to kick butt, not their gender."
Here are some responses that Mic received from women.
Bea Arthur, founder and CEO of Pretty Padded Room, an online therapy website for women. (Image: Mic)
Civil engineer at STV Inc. (Image: Mic)
Zerlina Maxwell is a political analyst and freelance writer living in New York. (Image: Mic)
Jo Wolfe, evolutionary biologist at the American Museum of Natural History. (Image: Mic)
What do you think of this campaign? What is your 'favourite position'? Tweet at @sbsnews or comment below.
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