At first inspection, a group for women working in PR might seem like a redundant notion. After all, a cursory glance around any agency will quickly show that the industry has no issue with attracting and retaining female talent. Indeed, according to a Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) census in 2013, women make up 63 per cent of the PR profession.
The problem is that the same census revealed that despite making up the bulk of the sector, only 13 per cent of women surveyed were board directors or partners compared to 29 per cent of men. In 2015, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ annual ‘State of the Profession’ report found that, on average – even taking into account variables such as length of service, seniority, parenthood, or a higher prevalence of part-time work amongst women – men were paid on average $11,840 more per annum than their female peers. Moreover, the report identified sex as the third biggest influence on salary, more so than educational background, what sector you practice in or whether you work part time or full time.
When it comes to women in the workplace, PR may not suffer from a ‘leaky pipeline’ like that experienced by other industries, but there’s certainly some kind of blockage in the pipe that prevents women reaching the point where they receive appropriate promotions and pay in line with their skills and expertise.
It is this blockage that Women in PR seeks to address. For example, it works to highlight the pay gap and recommend measures to combat it, such as developing more of a flexible working culture.
Later this month, Hanson Search will join PRCA in launching Women in PR Middle East, an offshoot of the Women in PR group. The inaugural event will take place in collaboration with the PRCA’s MENA launch and will mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
Women in PR Middle East aims to replicate the success of this group in the unique cultural milieu of the Gulf. Contrary to the assumptions of many, there are ample opportunities for women working in PR to succeed in the Middle Eastern region. But, as in the UK and elsewhere, vigilance against insidious sexism in the apportioning of roles and remuneration is required if women are to be supported to reach their full potential.
This is why there is a real need for a body like Women in PR Middle East. It will provide a platform for female PR professionals in the region to work together and raise awareness of disparities caused by gender as well as, of course, functioning as a much-needed networking platform for expats working in the region. The Middle East has a thriving PR industry with exciting opportunities for PR professionals at all levels. Women in PR Middle East will help ensure that women take their rightful place in it, not only in the business, but in the boardroom too.
Felice Hurst is managing director of Hanson Search Dubai