Male Allyship

A male ally is a man who intentionally works to promote the advancement and well-being of girls and women in the home, workplace, community, and beyond. Allyship is shown by acknowledging gender disparities and engaging in active listening, mentorship, sponsorship, and advocacy. Utah has a historic legacy of such allyship; in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Utah men championed women’s suffrage, education, and public leadership. Yet today, UWLP research has found significant gaps remain between men’s perceptions of their support for women and women’s lived experiences. Utah consistently ranks last in women’s equality and research indicates that fewer Utah women than men feel they have opportunities for advancement or supportive organizational cultures. Mentorship and family-friendly policies benefit everyone and expand opportunities across education, careers, and civic life, particularly for women in environments shaped by traditional gender norms. As men and women join forces to improve the status of women in the state, we will benefit families and strengthen the positive impact of both women and men in their communities and the state as a whole.

Utah needs male allies to positively impact women's lives by increasing opportunities and support for women in the 18 spoke areas of A Bolder Way Forward. The Male Ally Team is working with partners statewide to strengthen leadership and workplace cultures by highlighting the powerful impact of male allyship in both professional and community settings. By equipping individuals, organizations, and communities with practical tools, the team supports meaningful action. Explore the resources below to learn how you can help build a Utah where girls and women thrive, supported by men who advocate for them within their circles of influence and leadership. To get engaged, email the UWLP Community Connector (Amy Anderson).

Key Resources

Male Allyship Course

Resource Kit

Research White Paper

What Utahns Need to Know

Podcast

Bold Goals

Through collective impact and systems thinking, Utah can improve things by working towards the following goals:

Increase Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
1. Men in Utah are supportive of women becoming leaders.
2. Men in Utah are engaged in efforts to have more women in leadership roles.
3. Utah men are interested in supporting women.
4. There are opportunities and resources available to help Utah men become better allies for women.

Team Leaders

Richard Hawkes (Director of Programs, Northrop Grumman)
Colleen Orton (CEO, Beyond Health Consulting)
Christopher Larsen (Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch)
Rachel Cottam (Founder, Allies at Work)
Jared Harding (Principal Consultant, Sekha Consulting)

What You Can Do

Encourage men of all ages to participate in an interactive course titled “Male Allyship: A New Conversation.” Host a group of 3-5 men in a 5-part series of engaging discussions and activities.

Educate yourself and others on the importance of male allyship and identify ways you can elevate women's voices and contributions.

Sign up for the BWF Male Allyship Team newsletter, join the team's LinkedIn group, and become part of Utah's "Male Ally Army."