How to be an ally

What does allyship mean to you?

Allyship means acknowledging and understanding one’s own gender, race and classed position. It requires purposefully engaging in ways that unseat or disrupt axes of power. As a white cis-hetero male, this means reflectively and intentionally interrupting oppressive acts. Allyship means recognizing the layers of privilege and the multiple intersecting axis of power that (in)form our daily interactions. The means by which we are and can be allies reflects our abilities and willingness to disrupt and engage with institutionalized inequities. In short, allyship means recognizing systemic injustices and challenging the silences that cloak racism, sexism, misogyny, as normal. Allyship is about finding that voice, elevating that voice and promoting voice that dismantles systemic injustices.

What actions can men take to advance gender equality in academia?

Men can pay attention to how and if they are listening and respecting the voices of others. Male allies can ask themselves what and how exactly are they supportive in situations that require allyship. In other words, when men see gender inequities, they need to consider active, supportive disruption. Male allies need to consider how we invite others, particularly other men, to support an open dialogue that makes gender inequities visible. Men can nurture and promote dialogue and curiosity rather than sustain misogyny or allow for male defensiveness and silence. Frank and uncomfortable conversations that make explicit power imbalances or perceived unfair power are difficult but necessary. In academia this means that male allies can interrupt sexism and misogyny and institutional practices that implicitly and explicitly silence or serve to gloss over injustices.

How should male allies react when they see gender bias, discrimination or harrassment?

Complicit masculinity, unlike allyship, reflects the silences, the awareness of various forms of whisper cultures in which racism, sexism, misogyny go unquestioned and unacknowledged. To bear witness to gender bias, discrimination or harassment means male allies must react with compassion and awareness. Male allies are uniquely positioned to dislodge themselves from male privileges by disrupting and questioning male counterparts whose practices, interactions, attitudes are discriminatory. In short, men should speak up when they hear or see evidence of sexism, harassment, misogyny or racism. The courage to speak alongside and not for women signals action and the required interrogation by allies.

How can administrations promote effective ways to engage male allies in allyship?

Historically administrations have not developed strategies to promote or encourage allyship. Acknowledging attitudes, behaviours, and the impacts of normative masculinity can lead to broader conversations that identify institutional sexism, harassment and racism in academia. Issues including, for example, mental health and gender-based violence are concerns for all of us. The ways masculinity manifests itself on campus, in academia, and in daily interactions at universities is a way to promote male allyship while acknowledging diverse masculinities. By supporting a plurality of masculinities, administration will legitimize boys and men being unlike the rest who are routinely complicit in sustaining and guarding the normalcy and membership of the boys’ club. Until administration purposefully disrupts, challenges, and interrogates masculinity on campus, the boys’ club and complicit masculinity will continue propping up systemic sexism, racism, homophobia and harassment.