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42 ¦ JULY 6, 2020 EXPERT OPINION

‘It’s Difficult for Women to Speak Up in
Virtual Meetings’

By Vivia Chen

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Iwish I could collect that proverbial nickel every My, my, so much riding on the disruptive pow-
time someone tells me that law firms, corpora- ers of COVID-19. I don’t doubt that it’s altered
tions and the world will be more egalitarian and the way we work and live, but will this pandemic
inclusive because of COVID-19. I hear this from topple the white male patriarchy and usher forth
law firm partners, members of the C-suite and a new era in which women and people of color
lowly, wistful associates. You’ve probably heard share the power structure?
it too—that people are more reflective now, that I’m not so hopeful. And, if you read between the
they’re empathetic and that there’s a real hunger lines, neither are the respondents in that Catalyst
for change. survey. It turns out that fewer than 41% of employ-
That sanguine view is reflected in a recent sur- ees believe their workplaces are “fully committed
vey by nonprofit Catalyst, which finds that seven to—and already taking steps to create—an inclu-
in 10 employees believe that COVID-19 will stim- sive workplace.”
ulate gender equity in the workplace. Moreover, “We see a clear tension between optimism for a
eight in 10 business leaders believe the pandemic more inclusive and equitable workplace and skep-
will eventually result in a more inclusive work- ticism that companies and business leaders will
place for people of color. (The report, conducted actually take the necessary steps to address dis-
in early June, surveyed 1,100 U.S. business leaders parities at the organizational level,” says Catalyst
and employees.) president and CEO Lorraine Hariton.

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