InBloom #8: Allyship

This week I want to focus on Allyship. This was not a word/concept I really used much before I joined Bloom (other than A-level history essays). At Bloom we have a brilliant Allyship Code, authored by Elizabeth Anyaegbuna and Gina Miller, it's six simple steps:

A - Actively Advocate and Amplify

L - Listen and learn

L - Lean-in and Lessen the load

I - Include and integrate intersectionality

E - Empower equity and drive equality

S - Sense check, speak up and support

I revisited the code recently as I just thought what a great life philosophy! It is something we can all do for all people, especially those marginalised or vulnerable.

Male Allies

Bloom exists simply because we are not yet living in a world where women are truly equal with men in the marcomms world. We are moving toward a more equal place but the changes needed are societal. Everyday sexism is reality and it cannot be just women who call it out.

It's so important that men are allies, that they speak out and support their female peers, colleagues, partners, wives and girlfriends. Benedict Cumberbatch did it back in 2018, calling for all actors to ensure their female co-stars were on equal pay. Andy Murray is simply brilliant at countering countless daft journalists who have slipped into lazy everyday sexism when questioning him (see below).

At Bloomfest last year it was great to see so many men on panels supporting inclusion and raising awareness of the importance of allyship. Thank you Ben Hunte , Kevin Chesters , Michael Albert Brown , James Cusack , Richard Ottoy , Naren Patel and Matthew Hook (sorry if I have forgotten anyone else!)

I recently ran a training session on networking for a group of Bloom mentees. I had some lovely feedback and as I left the event, I thought this really needs to be run for all our team back in the office. It wasn't fair that just young women had that opportunity. So I ran it back in the office with a mixed group and was glad that I had caught myself and was showing what I hope was good allyship.

Small actions, big allies

I had the privilege of taking part in the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) Diversity and Inclusion course run by Roxanne Hobbs a few years ago. At the start of the course, the themes were outlined - we'd be covering; race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, gender, masculinity, disability, neurodiversity and age. Roxanne outlined that she was developing a module on gender identity & expression in the workplace as whilst the LGBTQI+ module covered many topics she did not feel it was doing the transgender community a fair service. She went away and developed a module that has stayed with me.

The module was delivered by a transgender person and I was made aware how important allyship is to those who don't feel seen as themselves, especially in the marketing and communications industry. Something as small and simple as putting pronouns on your LinkedIn profile and email signature is a show of allyship. I hadn't considered it prior to the course but updated my profiles immediately. Even though that was only a couple of years ago it feels that pronouns are now the norm. It costs us nothing but is an important demonstration of inclusion for many. If you've not added your pronouns, worth having a think about...

Until next week.

CJ ????