6 Ways Men Can be Better Allies for Gender Equality
Our firm belief is that men need to be part of the solution when it comes to gender equality. No minority group in history has ever affected change without the support of the majority and alas women are still in the minority at the top of so many industries. We know from research that gender equality has wide-reaching, positive impacts for all. And yet, gender equality is still usually only talked about in the context of women. You would be surprised how many times we have been told that engaging men is not part of a company’s gender equality mission.
As we mark International Women’s Day, we share 10 ways men can be better allies to gender equality, in the hope that every man that reads this can do at least one thing differently tomorrow that will help in the pursuit of gender equality:
Listen - first and foremost listen to those in your team around you and listen without judgement. If they tell you they feel excluded, then you are excluding them
Teach yourself - I am learning something everyday about what it means to find yourself in the out-group. Anyone who thinks that there are no fewer barriers for women are just ignorant of the challenges that exist throughout the system. As well as listening to your colleagues, books like The Guilty Feminist and The Fix will give you empathetic insight into the numerous challenges women face in the workplace.
Call in bad behaviour - Often it is much easier for an ally to point out behaviour and language that is inappropriate but part of our responsibility as leaders is to also make sure that it is not left unchecked. However, “it is always better to call it in rather than call it out”. Put simply, there is no value in shaming the person who behaved badly. Often this behaviour comes from ignorance and you are best pulling someone aside and helping them understand why their behaviour is exclusive.
Change the culture - If truth be told, we’ve become a bit disillusioned with the male allyship narrative. It often leads to men being celebrated for just being a good human being. In our view, true allyship is a recognition that the system itself is broken and requires using your potential and privilege within the system to effect change. This might mean acknowledging what the dominant culture in your workplace is, and if it’s harmful to minoritised individuals. I would definitely recommend you read our Masculinity in the Workplace (MIW) report to understand where the key inclusive leadership gaps are in the UK.
Recognise that gender is not binary - A key part of becoming a better ally to get equality is also recognising that we do not live in a world of just men and women. Although the term was only coined in the 90s, non-binary people have existed throughout the entirety of recorded human history and across cultures. In the US, 56% of Gen Z know someone who uses a gender neutral pronoun and 59% believe forms should include options other than “man” and “woman” - indicative of an upcoming revolution of gender norms in the workplace.
Become a change-maker - if you are a man and this resonated, then please do your part in ensuring that we‘re creating workplaces in which everyone can thrive. The more we learn, the more we recognise our responsibility and the change we can all make as an individual. It’s only when we all commit ourselves to becoming change-makers, that the system can begin to shift.