How Men Can Be Allies for Women in the Workplace

I'm honored to be part of the Allies for Change cohort provided by Visa; a program that helps men become more effective allies for women in the workplace. One of the most powerful insights I've gained from this experience is the importance of confronting other men when they demean, offend, or harass women - even if it’s unintentional. Here are some of the reasons as to why this is so crucial, as explained by the cohort facilitators/authors, W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith:

• Women who call out bad male behavior often are evaluated negatively, even rated as less than competent compared to a man that does the same. This means that women face a double bind: they either have to endure the disrespect or risk being penalized for speaking up.
• When a man (someone without an apparent vested interest in gender fairness and equity) confronts bias or sexism, observers are more likely to be persuaded. This means that men have a unique opportunity to influence the attitudes and behaviors of other men, and to challenge the status quo.
• How a message is received is often less about precise wording and more about the in-group identity of the speaker. A confrontation intended to change attitudes and behavior has more impact when it comes from someone perceived to be similar — in this case, another man who can claim, “That’s not who we [men] are” and “That’s not what we [guys] do.” This means that men can use their social identity and credibility to create positive change.
• Quite often, men fear they’re the only guy in the room who objects to a sexist comment or raunchy joke (though evidence shows lots of men are offended), so they stay silent when they could break the spell and enable other male allies to find their voice if only they’d speak up. This means that men can inspire and empower each other to be more vocal and supportive of women.

These are just some of the reasons why I'm committed to being an ally for women in the workplace, and why I encourage other men to join me in this journey.

I'm grateful to Brad, David, and the other cohort members for sharing their wisdom and experiences with me, and for challenging me to grow and learn.

I hope this post inspires you to think about how you can be an ally for women in your workplace, and to take action when you see or hear something that's not right.

Together, we can make a difference. #LifeAtVisa

Cheers to all great women that I’ve had the pleasure to work with and learn from.

Reference: https://hbr.org/2020/10/how-men-can-confront-other-men-about-sexist-behavior?giftToken=17471089961718897868272