Good guys: How men can be allies to women at work
Achieving gender equality in the workplace is not a “woman’s issue”. The key to advancing equality lies in men, say gender-in-the-workplace experts David Smith and W. Brad Johnson in their book “Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace”.
Smith, who is an associate sociology professor at the U.S. Naval War College, and Johnson, a psychology professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, lay out the rationale for being a warrior for gender diversity and explain how men can be allies to women at work.
Women constantly face inequalities and biases, both in personal and professional level. At home, they often face an unequal division of household chores and childcare, and in the workplace, they deal with lower pay, lack of credit for their contributions, roadblocks to promotion, sexual harassment, and more.
And while organisations are looking to address these issues, too many gender-inclusion initiatives focus on how women themselves should respond, reinforcing the perception that these are “women’s issues” and that men – often the most influential stakeholders in an organization – don’t need to be involved.
Smith and Johnson counter this perception. In their book, they show that men have a crucial role to play in promoting gender equality at work.
Research shows that when men are deliberately engaged in gender-inclusion programs, 96% of women in those organizations perceive real progress in gender equality, compared with only 30% of women in organizations without strong male engagement.
“Good Guys” is the first practical, research-based guide for how to be a male ally to women in the workplace. Filled with firsthand accounts from both men and women, and tips for getting started, the book shows how men can partner with their female colleagues to advance women’s leadership and equality by breaking gender stereotypes, overcoming unconscious biases, and developing and supporting the talented women around them.
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