How to Be Clear, Direct, and Respected at Work

Assertiveness Amid Inequality

Corporate enthusiasm for gender diversity waned markedly in 2025. McKinsey's annual report found that only half of companies now prioritise women's career advancement, down from previous years. This shift comes amid economic headwinds and political polarisation, where empathy in workplaces has receded, leaving employees less connected and more hesitant to voice ideas.

In STEM disciplines, these dynamics hit hardest. Women, who comprise just 35% of science graduates globally, face entrenched stereotypes that cast their communication as less authoritative. A 2026 meta-analysis in Behavioral Sciences showed men report higher self-efficacy in underrepresented fields like computer science and physics, where gender disparities in confidence widen the participation gap. Women's relationship-oriented style, while fostering collaboration, often clashes with expectations of directness, leading to scrutiny or dismissal.

The real-world toll is evident in workforce data. Women hold only 26% of roles in data and AI, and 12% in cloud computing, per UN figures from February 2026. This underrepresentation stifles innovation in critical sectors, from healthcare to climate tech. Harassment and bias further compound the issue: over a third of women in STEM report sexism as a top challenge, per UNESCO's 2024 report, driving the 'leaky pipeline' where female talent drops off at senior levels.

Stakes are concrete and mounting. Turnover costs from disengagement average $1.9 trillion annually in the US alone, with gender inequities amplifying this. Deadlines loom in regulatory pressures, such as EU mandates for gender-balanced boards by 2026, while inaction risks widening gaps—women in computational STEM are less likely to pursue careers despite equal abilities, due to cultural barriers like stereotype threat.

Non-obvious tensions lurk beneath. While transparency builds trust—80% of employees report higher loyalty in open cultures—assertive women often face a 'likeability penalty,' where directness erodes perceived warmth. Multigenerational workforces add complexity: Gen Z demands authenticity, yet older norms reinforce gendered roles. Hybrid setups, post-pandemic, blur boundaries, making clear communication essential yet harder to achieve without backlash.

Surprising data emerges from field-specific analyses. In biology, where women earn over 60% of degrees, self-efficacy shows no gender difference, hinting that representation breeds confidence. Yet in engineering, where women are 16% of the workforce, implicit biases in promotions persist, per ASME's 2024 infographic. Trade-offs abound: pushing assertiveness training risks overlooking systemic fixes, like bias audits in hiring.