How Men Can Be Allies to Women and Support Them in the Fight Against Misogyny

Misogyny is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. There are multiple different forms of misogyny such as gender discrimination, sexual harassment, violence against women, belittling of women, and sexual objectification.

Unfortunately, misogyny is a very widespread problem and there are some very high-profile individuals who have shown misogynistic behaviour. For example, Andrew Tate recently went viral for sharing his misogynistic views, and toxic beliefs about masculinity in videos that have been liked and shared millions of times, across multiple social media platforms. This is specifically problematic because most of his videos are watched by young and impressionable men, who are vulnerable to his message of toxic masculinity. Another example is actor Charlie Sheen who has a long history of violence against women, with sexual assaults, battery and threats against women spanning over two decades. Although misogyny is a very widespread issue, it is important to recognise that it is a minority found amongst men, and women, in the form of reverse sexism. The majority of men do respect women, and they can act as allies to women and help support them to help put an end to misogynistic behaviour. ?

A recent YouGov survey commissioned by EE, has revealed that 60% of the UK public believe that not enough is being done to tackle online and offline misogyny and 52% of the UK public don’t feel the internet is a safe space for women. As a result of these findings, EE created the ‘Not her problem’ campaign, designed to combat online sexist hate ahead of the UEFA Women’s European Championships. The campaign highlighted the positive impact men can have by becoming allies to women during the Euros as the CEO of EE anticipated there to be a “vocal minority trying to denounce and discredit the women’s game.”

It is vital for men to understand the significance of the role they play in helping to combat misogyny and be aware of how they can become better allies to women. Here are some tips on how men can become better allies and help support women in the fight against misogyny:

Lead by example

Simply behaving in a way that shows that you respect all women, shows others how to behave. This may involve taking measures to ensure that women around you feel safe such as keeping a respectable distance and crossing over to avoid walking behind them. It is also important that you question your own behaviour and recognise when your thoughts, statements, and behaviours are linked to gender-based stereotypes.

Listen

Take the time to listen to women’s stories – and take their concerns seriously. Listening to their experiences will help you gain a better understanding of the misogynist behaviour that women are faced with and the impact that it has on them. Additionally, if you are called out on your behaviour, listen, and take measures to ensure that you do not repeat it. You may also find it beneficial to ask your female friends, family members, and colleagues about how you can offer support and become a better ally as they may have some great ideas on ways that you can act in solidarity.

Challenge misogynistic behaviour when you see it

If you witness somebody making an inappropriate comment or joke about women, speak out. Some people may feel uncomfortable doing this due to their own fear of repercussions or exclusion, however, it is important that this type of behaviour is called out in order to put a stop to it. Worryingly, a survey conducted by Catalyst found that 86% of men said they wanted to interrupt sexist incidents in their workplace, however, only 31% of them felt confident in their ability to do so. White Ribbon, a campaign that is working towards ending men’s violence towards women, have some great resources available on their website, which identify effective and appropriate ways to call out inappropriate behaviour.?These types of resources may help men feel more confident in their abilities to speak out. They also explained that calling out others on their behaviour is not about humiliating them, it’s about educating and encouraging a change in attitudes.

Misogyny is too prevalent in our society, and it shouldn’t be left to women to try to combat it alone. It is so important that men are made aware of the actions they can take to show their support for women and act in solidarity in the fight against misogyny.?