Results reveal community inequality

KEY findings from a survey have revealed that 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.

The survey, Leading the Change to Gender Equity in Jewish Leadership, was commissioned for the Social Justice Summit 2022, which will be held all day on Sunday at Emanuel Synagogue.

The full results of the survey will be discussed at the summit, which will include speakers Yael Stone, Jillian Segal, Anna Green, Lisa Ezekiel, Nomi Kaltmann, Courtney Winter Peters, Rebecca Forgasz, Yvonne Weldon, Elana Benjamin, Judith Levitan, Donna Jacobs Sife and Rachel Marie.

Roundtable discussions will address the fact that only a small minority of Jewish communal organisations have equal representation of women in leadership positions.

Questions that will be addressed include: “Jewish women have all the experience, education, and passion to lead the community, so why isn’t this reflected in Jewish leadership positions? Doesn’t a shortage of women in representative roles mean women’s voices are not being heard? How can women lead change if they are not in formal leadership positions?”

According to a report by Plus61J Media, who supported the survey, results revealed that of the 10 per cent of women, and 20 per cent 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 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.

One of the aims of Sunday’s summit will be to analyse these roadblocks and start paving the path to gender equity in Jewish communal organisations.

The survey is an abridged version of a survey of Jewish communal organisations in Victoria in 2020-21.

The NSW survey found that female employees are far less likely than men to report that they received regular pay rises, had access to professional development opportunities or were actively supported to advance their careers.

The summit is being co-presented by Plus61J Media, Emanuel Synagogue and Shalom in partnership with the Sydney Alliance, Stand Up and NCJWA NSW. It is supported by the JCA Social Justice Fund.

Register for the summit: events.humanitix.com/social-justice-summit-2022