Intersectional Identities of Women - Who qualifies as a woman?

Challenge yourself as a leader to reassess your biases of who qualifies as a woman and a leader. Nobody appreciates when an outsider imposes standards on their personal identity without their consent. The four resources below are offered to expand your DEI leadership perspectives of intersectional identities of women. #womenleaders #dei

1. Intersectional Identity: Women with Menopause
Ahmadi, Ali Abbas (2024). Firms must help menopausal workers or risk being sued. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68366519. 
The UK recognizes menopause as a disability that impacts the daily activities of women and requires organizations to offer services and support for menopausal women. 
DEI Leadership Question: What would your organization look like if supportive menopausal services were available?

2. Intersectional Identity: Indigenous Women
When a loved one goes missing. National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. https://www.niwrc.org/resources/booklet/when-loved-one-goes-missing-quick-reference-guide-families-missing-indigenous.
A practical 72 hour guide for families and friends to navigate the disappearance of a missing indigenous woman.

DEI Leadership Question: Is your organization prepared to support indigenous families in this process? How is this transferable to missing indigenous trans women?

3. Intersectional Identity: Women with Diversabilities (Disabilities)
DiMatteo, Emily. Ahmed, Osub. Thompson, Villisa (2022). Reproductive Justice for Disabled Women: Ending Systemic Discrimination. Center of American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/reproductive-justice-for-disabled-women-ending-systemic-discrimination/. 
Foundational context for the reproductive discrimination legalized against women with disabilities in the USA. 
DEI Leadership Question: As an abled leader, when was the last time you reviewed health care, universal designs of facilities, and emergency evacuation plans to remove barriers for current employees and future hires who are women with diversabilities?

​4. Intersectional Identity: Women of global majority (women of color) and Jewish women
When Women are the Enemy: The Intersection of Misogyny and White Supremacy. Anti-Defamation League. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/when-women-are-enemy-intersection-misogyny-and-white-supremacy 
A deep dive into the background of discrimination against women rooted in misogyny and White supremacy with roots in anti-semitism. The last portion offers recommendations for inclusive policy with long term outcomes to protect women and their rights.
DEI Leadership Question: True or false, the role of non-woman (men, intersex, gender fluid, etc) leaders is active or passive to achieve protection of women’s rights? How can ally leaders leverage their privilege to prioritize inclusive policies?
Please share any additional resources in the comments. DEI is collaborative! The more different sources we engage the better informed our decisions and actions are to include more folks.