Developing norms and standards for male allyship programmes
Equimundo – Center for Masculinities and Social Justice approached Gender at Work to collaborate on the initial phase of this project, to explore the potential for developing norms and standards for male allyship programmes, and to document a range of approaches (through case studies) to male allyship and women’s leadership.
Holding the line: why male allyship matters now
Drawing on insights from practitioners across regions, this report, co-authored with Equimundo, explores how men can be part of a broader solidarity agenda; not on the margins, but engaged in advancing gender equality within organisations.
Workplaces shape people’s opportunities, dignity, and sense of belonging. When people of all genders are recognised and supported, they can become spaces of collaboration and shared power.
But this requires leadership that is willing to hold the line; to move beyond surface-level commitments and address the deeper norms and power dynamics that sustain inequality.
Our learning shows that male allyship is most effective when it is embedded within wider organisational change.
This includes:
✨ Creating spaces for reflection on power, privilege, and lived experience
🤝 Supporting accountability and collective responsibility
🏢 Embedding allyship within organisational cultures, systems, and leadership practices