In mid-October, Jennifer Griffith spoke with Stephanie Vozza of Fast Company about easy ways men could advocate for their colleagues at work. From the piece: "Allyship isn’t all about grand gestures", says Jennifer A. Griffith, PhD, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the University of New Hampshire Paul College of Business and Economics. "People have to critically consider their own thinking and behavior in everyday life," she says.
"Do the women in the office typically end up taking meeting notes? Are women responsible for organizing more of the tasks that promote others’ professional development, such as facilitating mentorship programs, but that don’t often result in praise or recognition? 'Office housework’ is not only time and effort intensive but can also keep individuals from fully participating in important decision-making or discussions," says Griffith. “Women are asked to do this office housework more often than men, so distributing these tasks more fairly can alleviate some of the pressure of taking on these additional tasks.”
Another concrete thing men can do is share connections, opportunities, and organizational resources, says Griffith. “If you receive a request to participate in a panel or meet with a group of organizational leaders to discuss a topic that is more in the wheelhouse of a coworker, recommend them for it,” she says. “But ask them if they are available and want to participate first.”
It’s important to recognize that these issues are not “women’s issues,” says Griffith. “This mindset can lead to both blaming women for systemic gender inequities and expecting women to fix these problems on their own,” she says. “Male allies should ask what their colleagues need and really listen.”
You can read the full article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/90421848/10-ways-men-can-help-close-the-gender-gap-for-female-coworkers
