'It's miserable': City bosses still battling glass ceilings

That was the take from a boss in the city who said the glass ceiling for women is still alive and well in British business.

In a major survey done for International Women's Day (IWD) by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, 57pc of 1,000 people interviewed believed gender inequality exists.

The study also found that notable minorities of the British public are not only failing to accept the reality of inequality between women and men, but are even seeing efforts to address it as causing harm.

Respondents also felt that traditional masculinity is under threat.

Grace Appleby, 23, founder of Norfolk Women's Marketing Network (Image: Grace Appleby)

Grace Appleby, account manager for Yawn Marketing set up Norfolk Women's Marketing Network six months ago to support women in the industry.

She said: "It is a shame we need International Women's Day which took place on March 8 but if there is work to be done it is important to be reminded about it. We can shine a light on folks who deserve it.

"I don't think people are secretly rooting against women but there is an unconscious bias.

"A woman who speaks her mind is labelled aggressive but a man who does that is viewed as confident.

"Emotional intelligence is an asset in business. If women are seen to be emotional people think they cannot handle it but when men get emotional they are seen as passionate."

She added women in business meetings faced difficulties in speaking up and it was important people "championed women and handed them the microphone to let their voices be heard".

The 23-year-old, who is passionate about progressing in her career, said it was crucial for women to have role models.

But she said that was difficult when there was a lack of women in boardroom-level positions.

Miss Appleby, who graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2020 and now supports 350 women through her network, said tackling the gender pay gap was a major hurdle.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2021, it will take 135 years to close the worldwide gender gap.

"For people saying there is no sexism, looking at statistics like that is miserable," added the business leader from Lakenham, who believes having a business mentor is beneficial for women.

Employment law solicitor Jeanette Wheeler, who is a partner for Birketts LLP (Image: Jeanette Wheeler)

This view is shared by employment solicitor Jeanette Wheeler, 51, from Thorpe St Andrew, a partner at law firm Birketts.

The single mother of 11-year-old twins, and a former chairwoman of Norwich Business Women's Network, said: "I have to juggle and work hard to keep the balls in the air. I can feel overwhelmed by it.

"If you have to compromise you cannot commit the hours needed to get to senior positions. To be chief executives or directors you have to do more than the hours of 9am-5pm.

"There is still misogyny in business. Society needs to look at structural inequalities.

"There is a massive disparity in which more board members are men compared to women. I support gender diversity because you get good decision-making."

She added ways to improve the situation was offering hybrid and flexible working to help people with childcare issues, which she thought would become common after Covid.

This would boost the "pipeline of female talent" that gets lost once women have children.

"Progress is slow. It is stuttering along. Businesses have to walk the walk rather than talk the talk," Miss Wheeler said.

Rosie Dearlove, now aged 21, after her fashion store Slayyy Vintage opened in St Giles Street in 2021 (Image: Archant)

Rosie Dearlove, 21, from Thorpe St Andrew, who owns Slayyy Vintage clothes store in St Giles Street, said there was strong community support for her business and IWD was a reminder of societal changes for women over the past 100 years.

But the successful business owner added there were instances when people asked questions to her boyfriend rather than her when they were in the store together.

She said to aspiring entrepreneurs: "Believe in your business. If you have an idea build a community to support you. I would be nowhere if it wasn't for the people around me."

Other city groups fighting for women's rights

Domestic abuse and modern day slavery are major issues facing women that need to be tackled.

That is the message from the Soroptimist International Norwich branch a year after the murder of Sarah Everard in London.

Group member Annette Conn, 78, from Bracondale, said: "We have been speaking about violence against women for years. Domestic violence has not gone away - it is getting worse."

Sheriff of Norwich, Caroline Jarrold, members of Soroptimist International Norwich Rowena Atkinson and Annette Conn and Lord Mayor of Norwich Dr Kevin Maguire at the Soroptimist International centenary tree planting event at Elm Hill in 2021 (Image: Sophie Wyllie)

The Soroptimist International movement started a century ago to boost the lives of women through education and employment and the Norwich branch marks its 70th anniversary this year.

Miss Conn added the group, which lobbies MPs, was highlighting modern slavery problems on IWD.

Emily Grogutt, from Sprowston, who is a committee member of the Golden Triangle Girls WI (Image: Emily Grogutt)

Reflecting on women's role in society, Emily Grogutt, Golden Triangle Girls WI committee member, said: "Young people are more accepting of individuals but there is work to do. We need to give young women role models and positively promote women."