Page 16 - BEQ Magazine Iss 23 FINAL v3

SHE Mark is different in important ways that better sexes beyond cisgender men.
reflect how companies are structured. “As our collective understanding of queer repre-
“Our standards intentionally deviate from pre- sentation grows, we’re starting to see the old 52/48
vious gender representation standards in that we binary biological sex breakdown, well, break down,”
look for 50%-plus instead of 51%-plus, and we also they say. “We know that intersex individuals make
look for gender representation in leadership and up around 2% of the population. They’re obviously
creative or innovative roles. …The SHE Mark thinks not considered in the old school, two biological
that gender equal co-ownership is feminist, and sexes statistic, so global gender representation can’t
we wanted to recognize and highlight the approx- simply be 52/48. And we’re finally, as a society, learn-
imately 15% of U.S.-registered businesses that are ing more about and normalizing gender identities
gender equally co-owned,” they say. “While majori- that are nonbinary again. … So, looking at what ends
ty-women ownership is great and one way to push up being much more complex statistics regarding
society toward a gender equal economy, it’s not representation of different sexes and genders in the
the only way. Gender equally co-owned companies population, we wanted to be sure to focus on gender
are also helpful and forward-moving, as is gender equity — meaning building up all underrepresented
equality in other leadership positions.” voices in the economy. That meant walking away
Broad acknowledges that the phrase “The from existing standards and developing the new,
SHE Mark” reads as “female” and that the naming more inclusive and more equitable 50%-plus women
decision was done, in part for simplicity. Broad and/or gender diverse-identifying led businesses.”
and Champion wanted verbiage that people could The firm’s founding documents may explain The
understand at a glance. But their intention always SHE Mark best. The “SHE,” Broad says, stands for the
has been to recognize a diversity in genders and “Syndicate for Human Equity.” 

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