Happy International Women's Day!
This month’s International Women’s Day theme is #ChooseToChallenge.
Happy Monday and Happy International Women’s Day!
This month’s International Women’s Day theme is #ChooseToChallenge. "A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world."
There is still a lot of work to be done to achieve gender equality and we can all play a part. Today’s newsletter is me choosing to challenge by educating men on how we knowingly or unknowingly contribute to gender bias and the steps we can take to challenge gender bias drawing nearer to achieving gender equality.
Men contribute to gender bias in numerous ways. One being objectification, the act of dehumanising women and in most cases treating them solely as an object of sexual desire. Examples of objectification can be catcalling which is known as street harassment ie. unwanted flirtatious comments, provocative gestures, wolf-whistling, stalking, and many more. Misogynoir is the specific discrimination against black women who because of their race and gender, are doubly oppressed. Lastly, perpetuating gender stereotypes, limit women, and can take place at school, work, or home contributes to gender bias.
As men, the first step we can take to challenge gender bias is to acknowledge the privilege that we have. History shows us that we have been granted more access and agency in work-related and academic spaces because of our anatomy. Secondly, by not being complicit and calling out discrimination when we see it.
Toxic masculinity isn't just a term that circulates Twitter - it has real-life application. Toxic masculinity refers to cultural masculine norms that can be harmful to men, women, and society overall. Norms such as suppressing emotions, violence as an indicator of power, or maintaining an appearance of toughness. Challenging toxic masculinity is an important part of challenging gender bias. We can work to challenge this by examining our unconscious biases and beliefs. Some of us were taught to view women in a certain light from popular culture, traditions and our own personal experiences may have shaped this view. I think it's important that we challenge ourselves to push past the ways we've been taught to see women.
It is important to dig deep and ask yourself why certain behaviours from women trigger you, make you irritated, defensive or upset. It can stem from the belief that women should be in a particular way. Find the root of the issue, and use this as an opportunity for growth by unlearning certain beliefs. Take a genuine interest in the experiences of women by asking questions and listening to them without being defensive and without responding with statements such as “not all men” or “men go through similar...”. By challenging toxic masculinity we can create a better, healthier, and more inclusive society.
We can also challenge gender bias by giving women the credit they deserve, supporting women in leadership, mentoring women, and offering equal opportunities and access to various fields. Educating ourselves is a great way to be an ally.
Happy International Women’s Day once again, we must celebrate our women every opportunity we get and continue to champion change. I want to give a big shout-out to all the women in my life who make a positive contribution to the man I am becoming. Let’s all continue to choose to challenge and make society a better place where women have the same opportunities and access as men.