In this blog, we will look at why gender and sexuality awareness training is important for every organisation. Diversity in teams can bring a wide variety of talents, perspectives and experiences. Embracing diversity, including gender and sexuality awareness, can shape your workplace culture into one that fosters collaboration, teamwork, engagement and higher productivity.
So, what do we mean by gender and sexuality?
While sex refers to the biological attributes a person is born with, gender refers to the characteristics of being female or male, which are largely socially constructed and culturally determined. For some people, their gender identity is different to the sex assigned to them at birth. They might identify as transgender, gender fluid or non-binary. People also have different sexual orientations. Sexual orientation refers to a person’s inherent or enduring sexual attraction to other people. Some people are heterosexual and attracted to a person of the opposite sex, while others might be gay, bisexual, pansexual or asexual. While, there is now a wide recognition of all gender identities and sexual orientations, unconscious bias and discrimination in the workplace can still occur. So, it’s important to equip your staff with the understanding of different gender identities and sexual orientations to help promote a more inclusive environment.
Benefits of gender and sexuality training to your organisation
Training in gender and sexuality awareness can lead to benefits, such as:
- Equipping staff with the skills to be an ally for LGBTQ+ people at work
- Not just normalising, but celebrating difference and diversity
- Creating a safe and inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and respected
- Reducing bullying, harassment and discrimination at work
The Gender and Sexuality Awareness eLearning course can help your employees develop a better understanding of diversity in gender and sexuality. It can raise awareness of challenges LGBTQ+ people might face in the workplace and suggest practical actions we can take to combat discrimination and promote a more inclusive workplace culture.
