Advocates and Allies

Overview

In 2015, RIT created the Advocates & Allies program through funding from the National Science Foundation Grant No.1500604 titled, "Engaging Male Colleagues in Institutional Transformation for the Advancement of Women Faculty." The Advocates & Allies project at RIT is based on an innovative approach designed by North Dakota State University to involve faculty men intentionally in the transformation of departmental cultures and practices. Our method, based on the NDSU approach, is specifically designed for academic settings to support men faculty, in consultation with women faculty, in gender-equity efforts and includes two essential components:

1) Recognize the implicit and explicit intersectional manifestations of gendered discrimination and

2) Effectively and systematically generate individual behaviors and institutional policies that interrupt inequities and foster gender justice.

The mission of the Advocates and Allies program is:

Introduce men to knowledge, skills, and strategies to effect positive personal, departmental, and institutional change

Emphasize men working with other men while maintaining accountability to women

Build a supportive network of men allies who are committed to gender equity

Tips for Being an Ally

Here are suggested actions that one can take to be an ally for women faculty:

• Tell women (and men) faculty that you are an ally
• Ask women faculty about their experience with departmental climate, and listen to their answer
• Ensure women faculty members have equal opportunity to speak during meetings
• Ensure women faculty are invited to informal departmental gatherings
• Talk to women faculty about their research
• Nominate qualified women for awards, honors, and positions
• Volunteer to serve on promotion, tenure, faculty search, and other committees with specific purpose of being an ally for gender equity

Tips for Being an Advocate

• Faculty men with a strong commitment and record of supporting women faculty in their department, colleges, and the university
• Active and effective proponents of gender diversity and equity 
• Committed to increasing their understanding of gender bias and its impact on the academic careers of women. 
• Expected to have an awareness of the dynamics of institutional and structural bias and privilege and be interested in learning about issues of discrimination and privilege in the workplace.
• A group that  meets regularly  (monthly) and works toward specific goals and outcomes, discusses recommended readings and case studies and is involved in the development and delivery of training programs for male faculty who are interested in becoming Allies.

Advocates & Allies

Nearly 100 RIT faculty men have attended Ally training and taken action, primarily within their own department. Common actions taken include:

• Speaking up at meetings regarding gender diversity and equity
• Act as an active bystander to support an inclusive, civil work environment
• Invite women colleagues to collaborate on research
• Nominate women colleagues for awards
• Serve on a committee as a gender equity proponent in place of their women colleagues to reduce the inequity of service loads
   

Advocates are faculty men who support faculty women by working towards improving gender diversity and equity. These advocates have a strong commitment to supporting women faculty in their department, colleges, and the university. They are aware of institutional dynamics and structural bias while showing an interest in learning about issues of discrimination and privilege in the workplace. The advocates are active and effective proponents of gender diversity and equity.