Talent Management at Centerra Gold

Christine LaRochelle Director

Toxic masculinity is a cultural issue that promotes harmful stereotypes about what it means to be a man. This can lead to harmful behaviors such as aggression, domination, and disrespect towards women and other marginalized groups. In the workplace, toxic masculinity can result in a hostile work environment, harassment, and discrimination.

Toxic masculinity is a pervasive problem in today's workplace, and one way HR can combat toxic masculinity is by promoting male allyship. It involves men using their privilege and power to support and advocate for women and other marginalized groups where men actively support and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women in their workplaces and communities. Here are some ways that male allyship can be used to combat toxic masculinity in today's workplace:

1. Speak up and take action: Male allies can use their privilege and power to speak out against toxic behaviors and attitudes that perpetuate toxic masculinity. This can include calling out sexist or discriminatory language, advocating for policies that promote gender equality, and actively supporting women in leadership positions. They can also support women who speak up by backing them up and amplifying their voices. 

2. Educate themselves and others: Male allies can listen to women's experiences and perspectives and educate themselves about gender inequality and discrimination (specifically gender-based microaggressions, overt, covert, and subtle sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination, etc.). They then can take the time to educate themselves about the effects of toxic masculinity in the workplace and how they can work to combat it. They can also use their influence to educate others, including other men, about the importance of gender equality and the negative impacts of toxic masculinity.

3. Support and mentor women: Male allies can actively support and mentor women in their workplace to help them advance in their careers. This can include advocating for women to be given opportunities to lead, ensuring they are included in important conversations and decision-making, providing guidance and advice, and offering constructive feedback.

4. Challenge harmful stereotypes and biases: Male allies can challenge harmful stereotypes about what it means to be a man and promote more positive and inclusive versions of masculinity. Male allies can work to challenge stereotypes and biases that perpetuate toxic masculinity, such as the belief that women are inferior or less capable or that certain jobs are only suited for men. They can actively work to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace that values the contributions of all employees, regardless of gender.

5. Hold themselves and other men accountable: Male allies can hold themselves and other men accountable for their actions and behaviors, and work to create a workplace culture that is safe and inclusive for all employees. This can include promoting respect and empathy, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination, and actively working to address and eliminate any toxic behaviors or attitudes.

“While Male allyship can benefit men themselves by improving their job satisfaction and performance, it is a powerful tool in combating toxic masculinity in today's workplace.”

While Male allyship can benefit men themselves by improving their job satisfaction and performance, it is a powerful tool in combating toxic masculinity in today's workplace. By speaking up, educating themselves and others, supporting and mentoring women, challenging stereotypes and biases, and creating a safe and inclusive environment, male allies can help to create a more equitable and empowering workplace for everyone. HR should encourage male employees to become allies by offering training programs, workshops, and other resources that educate them about the issues women face in the workplace. HR can also promote a culture of diversity and inclusion by ensuring policies and procedures support gender equality. For example, HR can implement blind resume screening and gender-neutral language in job descriptions to prevent unconscious bias in the hiring process. Additionally, HR can provide support and resources for employees who have experienced harassment or discrimination. This includes creating a safe reporting process and providing confidential counseling services.

Toxic masculinity can create a hostile work environment for women and can have significant negative impacts on their career advancement, job satisfaction, and overall well-being, not to mention the detrimental effects on productivity and bottom-line results. HR plays a critical role in engaging men to actively address toxic behaviors and promote a culture of respect and equality for all employees. Ultimately, male allyship is about creating a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported. It is about recognizing that gender inequality and discrimination are everyone's problem and that men have a critical role to play in creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace. By working together to actively promote gender equality, equity, and inclusivity, men can help to combat discrimination and harassment, address the gender pay gap, and create a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline, all of which create a workplace that is not only more just and inclusive, but also more innovative, productive, and successful.