In the run-up of March 8, I'm trying to come up with easy, everyday things that allies, especially cis men, can do to support women.
First idea, straight from the shared office kitchen: take care of it. Fill and empty the dishwasher. It's baffling how gendered this work still is, and yes, we notice. So make it your business to notice, too.
ETA: Other ideas welcome! Will keep adding my own, too.
This entry was edited (5 days ago)
Elisa
in reply to Elisa • • •And here we are: March 8. My challenge for you, not for today, but for the next 364 days:
Raise better men.
I often see how cis men refuse to intervene, call out, call in; in the work place, among friends, in public spaces.
Yup, that feels intimidating (trust me - I know. We know).
So: start talking about it with men you assume are allies; discuss how you all recognise sexism and hatred against women, and how you'll collectively act on it, and how you'll know when you succeed.
#IWD
Elisa
in reply to Elisa • • •Starting points:
Don't awkwardly chuckle at sexist jokes, or remain silent. Ask: "what's funny about it? Explain it to me." Works a treat with racist "jokes", too.
When you're in a space full of men, and men only, ask out loud how this happened, and how you're going to change it. Not for the cookie points of bringing women in (to spaces that may well be hostile), but by putting in the actual labour of understanding what has kept them out so far. Fix the root cause, not the women.