Henson, who played a crucial role in the success of Fox’s reality breakout hit “The Masked Singer,” is at it again. She is responsible for launching two of 2021’s top 10 new unscripted series on cable—“Wipeout” and “Go-Big Show.” When COVID-19 shut down live sports, Henson—just three months on the job at WarnerMedia—stepped up to fill the gaps with shows such as “Celebrity Show-Off” and “Impractical Jokers: Dinner Party.” She’s a big fan of Roxane Gay’s book “Bad Feminist,” calling it “honest, hilarious and acutely relatable.” “In calling herself a ‘bad feminist,’ she empowers us all to be the best feminist we can be, regardless of what that means to each individual woman,” says Henson.
What one female empowerment book do you think every woman should read?
“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay is honest, hilarious and acutely relatable. Gay delves into pop culture and culture, career, self-worth and the worth of our female friendships. In calling herself a “bad feminist,” she empowers us all to be the best feminist we can be, regardless of what that means to each individual woman. About career she says, “If you and your friends are in the same field and you can collaborate or help each other, do this without shame. It’s not your fault your friends are awesome. Men invented nepotism and practically live by it. It’s okay for women to do it too.”
What question(s) should you ask to ensure you’re achieving pay equity?
If a woman isn’t paid fairly from day one, it is unlikely she will ever catch up to her colleagues who have similar job responsibilities. To the companies that want to hire and retain good talent, I’d ask if they are consistently considering comparable marketplace and internal value, and backing it with research. And most importantly, are they being transparent about it? Companies that are leading the way on pay equity will have both consistency and transparency. To the job seekers, I’d say, your moment of hire defines the course and progress of your pay. It is not your job to ensure you’re being paid fairly. Do your research and ask the company to disclose their range for your job title or level. If they’re progressive on pay parity, they will be ready to answer this question. At the end of the day, you want to work where you will feel most valued.