Grace-Ann Jackson’s service to EdgeChem Limited dates back some 30 years, and over those years she has been promoted twice, both of which saw her stepping into roles typically held by her male counterparts.

But she was never afraid of a challenge, and so with boots strapped and pants on, Jackson, who started as a quality control officer readily took up the role of production manager and lab technician before being promoted to her current post as operations and logistics manager.

“I knew that I would face challenges as a female stepping into a male-dominated industry, but I wasn’t worried because our managing director and founder, Doreen Frankson, had already laid the foundation for me. I saw how difficult it was for her trying to build a business in a male-dominated industry, but I also saw how determined she was,” Jackson told the Jamaica Observer.

Jackson recalled that in her early twenties, while working in the paint business, which is a subsector of the construction industry, she would face subtle stereotypical behaviours or remarks, particularly from clients. To a lesser extent, she would also face challenges with work peers or her subordinates.

“When I was the production manager, I was smaller in size and looked younger than my age and so a lot of people would express surprise when they learn that I’m a manager.

“One customer referred to me as a ‘little girl’. I had another encounter with a customer, he said he wanted to speak with a manager and I said OK, how can I help you? He repeated that he wanted to speak with the manager and I said I am the manager. He later apologised,” she said during an exclusive interview with the newspaper.

Despite from whom the stereotypical behaviours would come, Jackson said a few things remained constant: she would act professionally, express herself clearly and confidently, and be resolute in her decisions. She added that having in-depth knowledge in her field of expertise was also a sure way for her to earn respect from her staff and clients.

“As a female in a male-dominated field, when it comes to managing staff, you have to be very clear in who you are. You have to be strong and very confident; you have to show that confidence for your staff to take you seriously.

“You also have to be very decisive in the decision-making process and clear in your communication. I laid that foundation very early. Although I am the manager, I try to include my staff in the decision-making process, because that is one of the easiest ways to get the people on board,” she said.

Jackson, who currently supervises 44 people, seven of whom are female, wants more gender diversity in the organisations and is challenging company heads to look beyond the gender make-up of individuals. Instead, she wants organisations to focus more on what an individual may bring to the table while noting that with diversity comes innovation.

“The male and female both have different ways of thinking, but when the two come together it usually leads to innovation. At Edgechem we believe in the best person for the job, it is not the best man or woman. Of course, some jobs may require a male, but for the most part, when we are looking for candidates to fill a role, we don’t use words that would suggest that we prefer to hire one gender over the other,” she said.

“For example, in our industry it’s typical for a shader to be a male, but at EdgeChem most of our shaders are female and they are doing a pretty good job,” Jackson added.

Fair compensation

Despite the push for equal pay for equal work, US-based media company Forbes recently reported that women continue to earn less than men in nearly every occupation, from entry-level positions to the C-suite. The gender pay gap refers to the difference between the average earnings of men and women in the workforce. Despite attempts to narrow the gap, women still earning 16 per cent less than men on average.

Achieving equality in pay is an ongoing process globally, but Jackson has weighed in on the conversation.

“With those statistics, females may become demotivated, or in extreme cases she may even decide to leave the workforce. But it’s important for women to be recognised for the value they bring to organisation and be rewarded accordingly,” she said.

In Jamaica, data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) show that the number of women employed continues to climb. In October 2023, there were 1,377,600 people in the labour force, 48,900 or 3.7 per cent more than in October 2021.

The male labour force increased by 24,100, and the female labour force increased by 24,800. The largest increases by industry group were in ‘Construction’ and ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’, which includes the business process outsourcing sector.