How to Be an Ally for Women in Cybersecurity

Achieving gender equality in cybersecurity requires active support from everyone, represented and underrepresented. Allies are people who speak up and stand out from the crowd to help foster the advancement of others. Allies also support a safe environment by working to develop individual attitudes, institutions, and culture in which underrepresented people feel they are valued.

An ally to women in cybersecurity would...

• Learn, unlearn, and relearn; Learn to recognize historical harm and it's intergenerational impact, unlearn biases from history and cultural marginalization, and relearn from new perspectives.
• Do no harm - understand and correct our biases; Work to change your behaviors and actions to avoid unintentional harm.
• Recognize and overcome microaggressions; Develop awareness and empathy skills to identify and eliminate these toxic behaviors.
• Advocate for people; Step up and advocate in small, everyday ways that can make big differences in people's lives.
• Stand up for what's right; Intervene to stop microaggressions and support people who have been harmed.
• Lead the change; When you're ready, take action to lead change in your work, on your team(s), and in your work place.
• Transform your organization, industry, and society; Address biases and inequities in your company and in the broader world.

(Source from "How to Be an Ally" by Melinda Briana Epler)

Allies are an integral part of the WiCyS community and we want to honor them for their positive impact on the cyber workforce.

Did a person in your life come to mind when reading these qualities?

Share their story and submit a WiCyS 2023 Allyship nomination for a chance to send them to the WiCyS 2023 conference. The Allyship Award winner will be recognized on the main stage during the conference.

Nominate an ally here.