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Catalyst believes that men have a critical role to play in diversity and inclusion efforts, especially initiatives to eliminate gender bias. Yet too often men are an untapped resource in such gender initiatives. To address this gap, Catalyst has embarked on a new series of research called Engaging Men in Gender Initiatives, which offers evidence-based advice about the most effective ways to partner with men in ending gender inequalities at work.
The report's findings supported the view that before individuals will support efforts to right an inequality they must first recognize that the inequality exists. Men who were more aware of gender bias were more likely to say that it was important to them to achieve gender equality. Other findings revealed three key factors that predicted men’s awareness of gender bias: 1) defiance of certain masculine norms, 2) the presence or absence of women mentors, and 3) a sense of fair play. Of those three factors, having a strong sense of fair play, defined as a strong commitment to the ideals of fairness, was what also best differentiated men who actively championed gender equality from those who were not similarly engaged. Lastly, interview findings revealed three key barriers that could undermine men’s support for initiatives to end gender bias: apathy, fear, and ignorance about gender issues.
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4 Reader Comments
Hi - i have only had a scan read of this - and i have to say there is a strong counter argument to "making feminism a men's issue". see article linked from BGD below. Men benefit much more from inequality than they suffer from it. http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2014/09/im-really-emma-watsons-feminis...
neither does this document address the fact that men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of gender based and sexual violence... and though we can be allies, offer solidarity and support etc, the issues this raises (especially in male dominated workplaces) could at least be discussed and addressed here.
I have made this point before, but it would be a worthy aim for women to be able to (or even encouraged? - now that would be radical!!) organise, lead and challenge hard on gender-equality issues without fearing any reprocussions to their career.
However i really like the allegory of the oil workers afraid of showing chinks in the armour of their masculinity taking more risks and trashing their companies safety record - this resonates with the cultural changes that my industry (construction) has been effective at leading change in
Tom W - you actually quoted a link from an author who has written a misandrist and a misguided article as your basis for stating the same statement she is stating? I mean - its laughable. The article she has written is so pathetically wrong that I cannot begin to explain.
Simply put - I am a man and I like to champion women's equality because I am being partnered with and if I see proper examples of it then I stand up against it. I am not being preached to and not being disparaged, demonized and definitely not lumped as of all men are the problem. If that happened I would absolutely stop supporting without a doubt. You don't get things done by making enemies. You just create wars and in the end - all wars hurt everyone. A gender war would decimate the human race irrevocably.
Nonsense like men benefit from inequality is just that...a stupid point. If we did I would never be here supporting its abolishment where I see it. Why? coz i like things that benefit me. But it does not, hence I fight it. Also there are more than enough studies out there that have shown that we managed to get results in terms of measurable gender parity long time back. So the narrative has moved to glass ceilings and other concerted efforts to keep women down. Again nonsense - having worked under 4 separate women bosses in 2 different organisations, I disagree, women reach the top if they put in the effort that men put it. Simple. Sheryl Sandberg, Indira Nooyi among others made it to the top because they were that good. As more qualified people come through, they will make it to the top.
This study (which I by the way read) - is also horribly misguided in many of its assumptions.
In my country men are not engaging much on gender issues because there is no special movement which include men as for me as gender expert i have started a movement but the means of keeping it alive is problem to me but if there is any kind of support i can do beater i have a dream for African man to change and support gender issues publically
I am considering writing my doctoral dissertation on this topic so any guidance or updated research is certainly appreciated. Flipping the mentoring partnership with men mentoring women and championing the cause is certainly a way to reach gender equity.
Thank you for your research to date.
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