Gender equality is a topic that we hear about daily and yet things aren’t shifting fast enough. While it seems we are moving forward in some ways - Women speaking up and fighting to get the same rights as men, denouncing inappropriate behaviour, standing up for themselves, it also appears we are missing an essential part to move even faster towards the equality goal. So what’s missing to make equality a reality rather than an unattainable dream.
Nick Haines writes for Female First
Gender equality expert and Kindness Ambassador Nick Haines tells us why men MUST also take part in the gender equality conversation.
First of all I’d like to highlight that Gender Equality is about both genders and not one, although the imbalance and inequality is vastly in favour of men.
There are six main reasons why is it essential for men to participate in the gender equality conversation.
1. To have a conversation, you have to have both parties present, or it moves into a point of view. Saying that, if you consider how some men have treated women, and the systemic inequality, abuse and disempowerment of women - going back throughout much of our history – it’s amazing that women actually want to have an inclusive conversation with men! I eternally grateful they do, but I’m not sure I could if the boot was on the other foot!
2. The more one sided the conversation is, the more division will develop. The more likely we are to get the misguided view that men are like this, and women are like that. This categorisation of women’s and men’s characteristics into Boxes “Men are like this” or “Women are like that” - That’s putting someone into a Box, and it immediately limits them to that Box. What if you’re a woman, and you really don’t do collaboration? Or a man and all you want to do is care and collaborate? Putting people into Boxes limit us all in terms of who we are and what we can become. And so much more.
3. Unfortunately, at the moment most of the power, influence and to a large extent decisions are in the hands of men. So, they need to not only be in the conversation, but they need to take a stand and do what is right. I’m not saying lead the conversation, because it has to be a shared conversation, but certainly be at the forefront and speak up for women’s equality in all areas.
4. The more men we have joining the conversation, and there are a lot, the more men will be able to see the advantages of a more balanced home and workplace. Although men in the main have had it very good, there is a level that the current situation isn’t great for them either.
5. It’s essential that men are in the conversation, doing the right thing and being seen to do so, because men are role models for many boys. If we are ever going to create a more equal society – and we must – we need to educate boys, or at the very least be good role models for future generations – and that means seeing men in the conversation and actively engaged.
6. As a planet, we’re teetering on the edge of destruction – in terms of the environment, the growing nutrition and health crisis and social division. I know this is denied by some people, but even if we are only half as bad as it looks, we need to have both genders fully engaged in an equal partnership to solve those problems. And not have half the population, based on gender, out of the game.
My question would be, How can you make gender equality irresistibly attractive to men and women?
Nicholas Haines is a Kindness Ambassador at the Five Institute, co-author of The Story Of Boxes: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (out Nov 11, 2018) and the creator of The Vitality Test, as well as an international speaker, author, strategist, teacher in Chinese energetics and a leading light in the #NoMoreBoxes campaign. People around the world have described The Vitality Test as the most insightful personality test they’ve ever experienced, and it’s freely available at www.fiveinstitute.com