What’s missing from gender equality efforts? Men.
Women are at a disadvantage in the workplace, from unequal pay to sexual harassment to the inability to be promoted in a fair and timely manner. And while organizations are looking to fix the issue, too many gender inclusion initiatives focus exclusively on changing women, leaving men out of the equation. Such efforts reinforce the perception that these are “women’s issues” and that men—often the most powerful stakeholders in organizations—don’t need to be involved.
As gender in the workplace experts David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson show in this crucial book, men have a profound opportunity to promote gender equality at work. Research shows that when men are deliberately engaged in gender inclusion programs, 96% of women in those organizations perceive real progress on gender equality, compared with only 30% of women in organizations without strong male engagement.
Good Guys is the first book to provide a research-based and practical guide for how to be a male ally to women in the workplace. Filled with first-hand accounts from both men and women and tips for getting started, this book shows how men can partner with women to advance women’s leadership by breaking ingrained gender stereotypes, overcoming unconscious biases, developing and supporting the talented women around them, and creating productive working relationships with women—especially in a post-#MeToo world.
"As long as gender inequality is a "women's issue," men aren't going to feel any responsibility to fix it—and that has to change, write assistant sociology professor Smith and psychology professor Johnson (co-authors, Athena Rising) in this persuasive call to arms."
"Men who care about gender equality often ask, 'How can I be a better colleague to the women I work with?' Good Guys is the playbook for how to do that, filled with practical advice and wisdom from leaders across many backgrounds. If you want to do your part to build a more equal and inclusive workplace, this book will help."
"Thank you, David Smith and Brad Johnson, for giving us a practical, evidence-based guide for what men can—and must—do to support women at work, at home, and in our communities."
"An amazing how-to book to pivot equality in our homes, offices, and societies. Smith and Johnson offer indispensable advice for how to achieve gender parity—both because it's the right thing to do and it's the smart thing to do."
"Many men want to be better allies to women, but we aren't always sure where to begin. Look no further than this book by two excellent guides who draw on their expertise as social scientists, their experiences in organizations, and their interviews with women to show how we can all improve in our efforts to level the playing field."
