On Monday, following the release of the Oxfam report which found it will take 75 years to achieve economic gender equality in Australia, I found myself asking after men.
I am bored of the same pity party that happens every time these reports are released. Yes, the situation regarding the gender pay gap is both frustrating and economically flawed. But let’s turn this passion and interest regarding the figures into real action that can help achieve change.
What we need on gender equality issues is greater recognition that these are not women’s issues alone. Nobody should accept the fact that, as it currently stands, we’ll be waiting 75 years for the gender pay gap to close.
It is bringing men into this discussion and making them active that will help. Broadly speaking, men have been slow to become active on gender equality, while few women diminish the issue.
Men should be trying to close the gender pay gap just as much as women. But, how do we inspire activity on this? I think it is about exposing the personal challenges that contribute to the pay gap, along with highlighting the fact women are not alone in managing such difficulties.
- Parenting is a partnership. Talk to men about recognising their own role as parents, this is not just an obligation for women. Together, parents should consider their own lives and ambitions and make reasonable sacrifices should they have children.
- Men could be better supporting female colleagues. Men need to be more understanding of the issues that face women in the workplace, which may involve women sharing their own stories of discrimination. Expose this in a broad way to highlight that gender inequality doesn’t exist on an individual level, but impacts countless people.
- Investing in women. The data is unquestionable: companies that pursue gender equality perform better. When men invest in the share market they should focus on companies that promote diversity and are competitive.
- Mentoring women. Each of us has gone through a workplace trial or tribulation; men can impart their knowledge and experiences onto junior colleagues going through similar situations.
- Men should investigate gender inequality in their own industry or company. A lot of women know the gender equality statistics within their own company, but not many men do. As the phrase goes “what gets measured gets done”. Men should ask up about the data that can be readily accessed, question it and share it with others.
Men have a responsibility to be active on gender equality. Complacency on this issue by men accepts the status quo. It means that organisations can only be so effective.
The social and economic gains are so overwhelming that it is high-time men became just as engaged as women on this issue.