This report provides an overview on the topic of men as allies in the advancement of gender equality in the workplace. It was created based on a literature review, synthesis of current research, and analysis of media coverage, and aims to provide a brief, accessible breakdown of men’s role as allies and how to engage men to further the cause of gender equality.

To help increase men’s awareness of gender bias:

• Go personal and professional: Impact men’s thinking through experience sharing.
• Define self-interest: Find relevancy of training initiatives to their jobs
• Recognize barriers: Address discouraging factors such as apathy, fear, lack of time, etc.

To provide good training:

• Ensure a sense of inclusion: Any form of effective male allies training will ensure that men feel included in the discussion. If men feel part of the diversity workforce, they will be more engaged.
• Identify male privilege: Help men better understand the potentially confining aspects of masculine norms.
• Appeal to a sense of fair play: Heightening men’s sense of fair play and engaging them in solution-building can be powerful strategies.
• Tell stories: Personal stories can increase empathy and might increase awareness in a male colleague who has trouble understanding the struggles women or minorities face at work.
• Use social proof: If a man feels like everyone else at work is supporting women, then he is more likely to support women as well. Influential managers can play a critical role here.
• Make the business case: As multiple resources confirm, the most persuasive arguments for men to support diversity are business case arguments.

To learn step-by-step how to launch a men as allies initiative, click here.