Why men must be feminists
The management team at my workplace and most of my coworkers are women. The agency I work for, the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC), was founded by two visionary women: the late Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, Israel’s first and the world’s third female prime minister, and Mina Ben-Zvi, the founder of what became the Israeli Defense Forces’ Women’s Corps, and later, the first MCTC director.
My experience working at organizations led by women has shown me the value of female leadership. Women are creative problem-solvers, honest, ethical, collaborative and good mentors.
While it would be an understatement to say women have made tremendous contributions to the workplace and society, we still have a long way to go when it comes to achieving gender equality worldwide. Many women still face challenges such as unequal pay and obstacles to attaining promotions that could place them in leadership roles. In many parts of the world, women still do not have the right to decide for themselves, choose their destinies, select their partners, follow their sexual orientation or express their thoughts freely.
Many men have a limited understanding of feminist theory and thought. The idea of feminism is often misinterpreted. Feminism is not about pitting women against men, nor is it about sameness or women trying to take men’s places. Rather, it is about equal rights and equal opportunities for men and women. It is the political, economic, religious and social equality of the sexes.
The biggest problem is fear of change. Some people worry that embracing feminism will force them to abandon established religious beliefs and cultural gender roles. For this reason, they do not agree with the essence of gender equality and feminism.
Men should be cognizant of the power and privilege that has long been associated with their gender. The institutions and rules we developed throughout the centuries have kept our interests out in front. The religious institutions, their doctrines and cultural norms, have put men as leaders by default. Men must question the fairness of those privileges, invite other men for a conversation, and call out men when they cause harm.
Men must acknowledge that men haven’t done enough to protect women’s rights throughout history. Men kept enjoying the privilege and ignored the gender issue. It has been women’s lives and voices that brought the feminist agenda to the fore. Today, men should promote women’s rights and call other men to be involved in the movement.
As men, we need to do our share of the work at home. We need to work with young people so that both boys and girls see gender equality from the very beginning. Men need to take this perspective into their offices, schools, community centers, congregations, politics and media.
Men who acknowledge women’s rights are better people. They see the results in their households, workplaces and communities. A father who supports his wife sets an example for his sons at home. Young men who grow up in an environment where their sisters and other young women around them are treated as equals will be more likely to adopt and perpetuate a respectful attitude toward women. Creating such a generation will pay forward in so many ways for families, communities and countries.
Collaboration between genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities and races in our workplaces, schools, congregations, neighborhoods and governments will enable people with diverse knowledge and backgrounds to lead us to do better work and make better communities.
Happy International Women’s Day!
The writer is the course director for innovation and entrepreneurship at Mashav Carmel.