Male Allies
In the Media
Check out this hilarious video that is funny and thoughtful. Itshows why in the end it is important for men to respect women and challenge themselves to be better individuals. We say geeks can make great gentlemen!
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FAQ on being a Male Ally and the Male Allies Project
What is a Male Ally?
A male ally is any self-identified man who identifies as a feminist, or who is working to overcome various oppressions such as classism, sexism, racism, heterosexism, or ablism. Being an ally (like being a feminist) is a life long learning process.
What is the Male Allies Project?
Though still in its conceptual form; the male allies project is the brainchild of the women's centre designed to bring self-identified men together to talk about masculity and its harmful affects on both men and women. We know that many men are concerned with the way masculinity denegrates women by making them into sexual objects, is homophobic, encourages violence, and discourages emotional expression. It is the hope of the women's centre that the male allies project will help men address these concerns in conjunction with other men and allow them an opportunity to reimagine what masculinity could be.
How can men get Involved with the Women's Centre?
There are a lot of ways men can get involved with the women's centre. They can become an event volunteer helping us flip pancakes and mix up batter at our open houses, or put up posters around campus, they can invite the women's centre to be part of an event that they are planning or they can join our males allies project.
Where can I find more resources on being an ally?
The women's centre library has a male allies section that we encourage all interested men to make use of, beyond that you will likely have to look off campus and online for resources.
Off-Campus:
In the Vancouver area SASC and BWSS are both running a male allies project, feel free to contact them to get involved, or visit their websites for more resources.
Sexual Assult Support Centre (SASC): www2.ams.ubc.ca/index.php/services/category/sexual_assault_support_centre,
604-827-5180. E-mail: sascprog@ams.ubc.ca
Battered Women Support Services (BWSS): www.bwss.org, 604-687-1868
We Can BC: Dedicated to changing attitudes and behaviours which encourage and allow for violence against women. It puts on workshops that are open to both men and women. www.wecanbc.ca, e-mail: info@wecanbc.ca.
Some great websites:
XY: Men Masculinities and gender politics. It is a space for the exploration & discussion of issues of gender and sexuality, and of personal and social change. It features articles on key ‘men’s issues’, from fathering and men’s health, to class, race and sexuality, to domestic violence.
The White Ribbon Campaign: An international non-profit organization commited to seeing men work towards ending violence against women.
Men Engage: A global alliance of non-governmental organizations that are involved in an array of research, interventions, and policy initiatives seeking to engage men and boys in effective ways to reduce gender inequalities and promote health and the well-being of women, men, and children.
Men For Change: It is dedicated to promoting positive masculinity and ending sexism and violence.
NOMAS: National Organzation For Men Against Sexism Pro-feminist, gay-affirming, anti-racist, and enhancing men's lives.
Oh Brother! Exposing the phallicies of the pro-feminist men's movement (they have a special hate on for NOMAS).
We do encourage men interested in being a male ally to take Women's Studies 101 (An Introduction to Women's Issues in Canada) or Gender Studies 200 (Thinking About Gender).
