For over 20 years now, I’ve been helping women navigate the effects of emotional difficulties, barriers to workplace advancement, and the many challenges that stand in the way of empowerment. This month, I’m writing to enlist the support of every woman’s brother, father, and son—good-hearted men and boys whose help is essential to this mission.
For too long women have believed that they must be the ones to “lift each other up.” I don’t fully believe this. I believe to improve society’s view of women also requires the assistance of men in the movement; just like we can’t as a society expect to have the greatest minds working on the greatest projects and innovations without having ALL people’s minds and brilliance on the tasks, both men’s and women’s. It’s the same thing with women’s equality and empowerment … they shouldn’t have to do it alone.
Caring quietly is no longer enough for men to do. Vocal support that is clear, public, and consistent has impact. It shifts conversations in boardrooms, hiring decisions, and challenges harmful narratives. It signals to other men that equality is not a “women’s issue,” but a human one.
This moment calls for partnership. It calls for courage. It calls for other men, partners, brothers, fathers, friends, and colleagues to use their voices alongside ours. Not to speak for women, but to speak with them; equality should never be a solo effort.
When men speak up, they help dismantle the myths that exist and continue to render women as “lesser than” and it reminds others that they, nor I, are advocating for special treatment; it’s about correcting long-standing imbalances that affect our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters.
Having male allies who stand beside them tells women in our world that those struggles are not theirs to carry alone. That their worth is not up for debate; it is inherent. And it needs to be a shared responsibility. Treasuring the women in our lives for what they mean to us is not enough. It must include defending them, supporting them, and letting them know you are their ally.
So ladies, talk with the men in your lives and tell them their voices matter. Ask them to use their courage to speak up when they witness inequity … courage to challenge dismissive comments, advocate for fair policies, and support women’s empowerment.
These are the things that good-hearted men will do, and if they won’t, it might reveal how those men really feel and maybe you need to know that too.
Women have always been strong, usually having to use that strength to push through boundaries, walls, and glass ceilings. Silence can allow harm to grow, so we need good men to do more than care; we need them to speak. As the famous saying goes, the only thing necessary for this inequity to remain is that good men do nothing.
