Gender bias and discrimination remain a persistent problem in the workplace.
Women are just as ambitious as men at the start of their careers, but they’re more likely to experience microaggressions, take on additional unpaid labor and face other barriers that deter them from advancing, according to research from LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company.
To achieve true gender equality, more men need to become allies on the job. Allyship is essential to fostering an inclusive, welcoming and equitable office culture, says Joanne Lipman, a lecturer at Yale University and bestselling author.
When women are able to thrive in the workplace, it benefits men, too: Men who work well with women and use the talents of a diverse team outperform their peers, LeanIn reports.
Here are three things men can do right now to support their female colleagues, per Lipman:
‘Interrupt the interrupter’
Several studies have found that men talk and interrupt more often than women.
Getting interrupted might seem like a small thing, but it’s a powerful tactic for asserting status and power in the workplace. In work meetings, women might feel pressured to stay silent when they’re interrupted, rather than speak up and risk jeopardizing their reputation, says Lipman.
That’s when it’s helpful for men to step in. “Listen for your female colleague being interrupted, and interrupt the interrupter,” says Lipman. “Look at them directly and say, ‘You know, [insert name of an interrupted colleague here] was speaking, I’d love to hear her finish her thought.’”
