Today we are speaking with Mrs. Carme Forcadell (CF), member of the Board of Directors of FORCADELL and her daughter Mireia Vila (MV), current CFO and member of the Board of Directors of FORCADELL, two generations of women-specifically the second and third generation of the Company - who have used to take part and are currently part of the direction of the Real Estate Consulting Firm FORCADELL.
The United Nations declared March 8 International Women's Day following a fire that occurred in a shirt factory in New York in 1910 where 146 people died: 123 women and 23 men. This fire marked the beginning of the struggle for women's rights. How, fortunately, the role of women in society and in the world of work since seed has changed. Mrs. Carme, could you look back on world of the workplace?
CF: Looking back, thinking about my career, I have a lot to thank to my parents. My mother was a militant activist, she was the one who opened the way for me. She was a firm defender women’s rights and the role of women. And she made it easy for me, honestly: when I was 21 I got my degree as a Real Estate Property Agent and I started working. I also think that thanks to her, and also to my father, this was a company that was ahead of its times, where women played an important role. I'm talking about the sixties. However, it must be said that, taking a more critical look, we also had our limitations, of which perhaps we were not previously aware. At that time it was unthinkable, for example, for a woman to come work in trousers. It was another concept, another era.
Mireia, and a looking at the present time?
MV: Looking to the present, and specifically to our Company: I believe that diversity is profoundly necessary in the workplace. Diversity, both culturally, gender wise and regarding age are key and enriching values in a company. And that is what we believe in FORCADELL. In fact, without seeking or forcing parity, we have realized that we have a totally equal Board of Directors team. And for me this fact is very important because I think that nowadays women do not have so many difficulties to find work, the main handicap is that, in many companies, they are excluded from the decision areas, from those positions that imply leadership. And I am proud because here at FORCADELL, this would be unthinkable.
MV: In fact I do not think that a management style is given by gender. It is given by the person. For me, each person has a style of directing and leading. The ideal structure for a company is one that is enriched by the complementation and cohesion of the two genders. I would not like a company led only by women, I would miss the male part. The people who lead the different FORCADELL teams are in those positions because of their values and abilities, never because of their gender.
According to a study published this week by the Social Observatory of La Caixa, women are 30% less likely than men to be hired.
CF: It is an illogical and incomprehensible discrimination. In addition, another fact that has surprised me about the study is that the preferred profile has been that of men with children, discarding also those who did not have. I am surprised that companies see a man with children as a responsible and involved person, but do not see the same in the case of women.
MV: I think that in order to achieve family reconciliation, a change of cross-mentality has to be made. That both companies and workers, men and women, have to opt equally for family conciliation, and can help to avoid these discriminations. If men took more reductions in working hours or paternity leaves, perhaps this injustice would not continue to be suffered by women alone.
They say that an empowered woman is one who is in the front line, be it in the social, political and workplace environments. It is a woman who is in areas of decision for their worth, ability or training and that, perhaps unknowingly, is serving as a reference for other women.
CF: I feel empowered as a woman, I combined a job that involved dedication and effort with my family and social life. I left at 6 pm from work, I went to pick up my daughters at the extracurricular activities, and I am lucky to say, that from my group of friends, all of them also studied and would also combine good jobs with a full family and social life. But I understand that this did not happen in all environments. We had studied at the Lycée Français and we went to mixed classes, which at that time was extremely rare. So I have to insist, that it was largely thanks to the advanced mentality of my parents.
MV: Exactly, without a doubt the women, young women and girls of today, in addition to examples and referents, they need that both in the field of education and in their families expect from them an ambitious professional future. Certain stereotypes are still maintained in society, for example, where young boys are expected to be engineers, doctors and businessmen, young girls are expected to be beautiful, princesses and, at best, administrators or pharmacists.
CF: Even so, I have to say that the journey that has been made towards this fight must also be valued. A lot has been done, and we can be proud, but let's not let our guard down, there is still a lot to do.
MV: I agree wholeheartedly, it's a cultural change in which we all have to contribute and keep on pulling through, women AND men, all of us. At home, in our families, with friends and as we are seeing today, in the workplace.
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