A Feminist Gives To Boys and Men.

By Karen and Erica

Melinda French Gates recently made major gifts to a variety of entities to support reproductive rights. No surprise there, given her articulated interests.

More surprising to some, she also made significant gifts to programs supporting boys and men. One of the grateful recipients, Richard Reeves of the American Institute of Boys and Men (AIBM), had this to say:

This is an important moment. It sends a powerful and timely message that the gender equality movement can—and should—expand to include boys and men. (Another fund is being directed by Gary Barker of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, a gender equality organization focused on boys and men).

Gender equality is not a zero sum game. We can do more for boys and men without doing less for women and girls. We can be passionate about women’s rights, and compassionate towards the struggles of boys and men.

We are delighted by her thinking—especially as we have sons, brothers, husbands or fathers. It is critical, in our view, that boys and men be strong allies for women and girls. Without them, we will never succeed to build a truly just society. We will never combat the retrenchments on our rights without male support. As a recent Harvard Business Review article put it:

Although men often report low levels of psychological standing — not to mention competence with specific ally actions — for engagement in gender-parity initiatives, it turns out that male engagement is essential. Research by Boston Consulting Group revealed that when men are actively engaged in gender diversity and inclusion efforts, both women and men have a much more positive outlook on their organization’s progress toward eliminating inequities.

And we women do not want a world like that, just in reverse. We don’t want more at the expense of men. We want men to be equal partners. We agree with the AIBM:

Helping boys and men is the right thing to do in itself. But it is also the right thing to do for women and girls. In the long run, a world of floundering men is not likely to be a world of flourishing women. Broadening the gender equality movement to include men will not hinder the progress of women. Failing to, just might.

We have to rise together.

Hats off to Ms. French Gates.