The Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) today acknowledges the release of a report by Diversity Council Australia (DCA), highlighting significant barriers faced by culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) women in securing leadership positions across various sectors. The research points to the need for organisations to adopt intersectional approaches to tackle the systemic inequities hindering the progress of these individuals.
The DCA report reveals that despite their drive, capability, and resilience, CARM women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles in Australia and globally. Of those surveyed, 65% reported fewer career advancement opportunities compared to non-CARM colleagues, and 85% felt the need to work harder to gain the same recognition. These findings expose a culture of inequality that not only overlooks the contributions of CARM women but also holds back organisational growth.
The report also brings attention to the challenges of underestimation and marginalisation faced by CARM women in the workplace. Seventy-five percent of respondents felt perceived as holding lower-status roles than they did, and 65% reported being ignored or not taken seriously by their managers. These experiences contribute to a work environment that feels unwelcoming. The combined effects of racism and sexism are evident, with 61% of CARM women experiencing racism and 48% encountering sexism in the workplace over the past two years.
“As an association committed to diversity in the legal profession, and an organisation that recognises the intersectional identities of Australians, we believe elevating the voices of CARM women, voices which often go unheard, as well as creating pathways to leadership for CARM women, is vital to reflecting and strengthening our workplaces as well as our communities,” said AALA Vice-President Belinda Wong. “We urge policymakers and business leaders to work with us in this critical effort.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Belinda Wong vicepresident@aala.org.au
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