The Advocates & Allies for Equity initiative focuses on transforming the climate of The Ohio State University by enhancing men’s engagement in gender equity work. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we will be offering both in-person and virtual workshop options.
To help create a more equitable environment and advance the professional interests of women faculty and staff and other underrepresented groups in your unit/department, we invite you to participate in the Ohio State Advocates & Allies for Equity initiative. This program is designed to bring men further into the gender equity equation by building a cross-campus network of male Allies who share an understanding of the effects of implicit bias and systematic privilege and to introduce specific practical actions to help men better support women at the university.
Advocates, male faculty and staff who already have a substantial record of supporting women staff and faculty, will lead the program. To begin with, Advocates will lead facilitated conversations or facilitations with other men to expose them to ways of better identifying and behaving as Allies in gender equity. These groups will share evidence-based knowledge, skills and strategies to effect positive personal, departmental and institutional change.
As of spring 2023, more than 800 men have become Allies by attending an Ally facilitation. The following departments/units have hosted Ally facilitations:
| College of Engineering | College of Medicine | |
| University Libraries | College of Arts and Sciences | |
| CFAES | John Glenn College of Public Affairs | |
| Fisher College of Business | ||
| Wooster campus | Mansfield campus | |
| Newark campus | Lima campus | |
| Marion campus | ||
| Radiology Oncology | Office of Distance Education and eLearning | |
| University Marketing | Faculty Development at Nationwide Children's Hospital |
Get Involved
You can support this initiative by:
- Helping to schedule an Ally facilitation in your unit/department or making your male colleagues aware of university-wide facilitations. People of all genders can participate in these ways.
- Becoming a male Ally by participating in a facilitation through your unit or as an individual in a university-wide workshop and committing to actions that advance equity and inclusion.
- Becoming an Advocate.
Learn more about each of these options below.
How to Schedule an Ally Facilitation
If you would like your department/unit to participate in helping to change the culture at Ohio State, submit an Ally facilitation request below. People of all genders can participate by requesting a facilitation. In addition, departments and units can request a refresher/repeat facilitation. The Women's Place will email you within 7 days after you submit your request and guide you through the simple process of scheduling a facilitation for men in your department.
Become an Ally
Allies are men willing to identify themselves as allies of women faculty and staff. They become Allies by attending and participating in a facilitated conversation with other men, which is lead by the Advocates. These facilitations will expose men to evidence-based knowledge, skills and strategies.
After participating in a facilitation, Allies commit to the following actions: to understand the issues, adopt specific approaches and behaviors, and ultimately extend the benefits of privilege and influence to women and underrepresented minorities in their departments/units and beyond.
If you would like to become an Ally, contact womensplace@osu.edu.
Train to Become an Advocate
Advocates are committed to increasing their understanding of gender bias and its impact on the academic careers of women. They must attend a two-day workshop to help them begin their work. An Advocate is expected to offer facilitations regularly and follow up with informal meetings to discuss case studies.
Advocates also work with the Advocates & Allies Advisory Council (AAAC) composed of staff and faculty of all genders. The AAAC’s role is to advise Advocates, provide feedback to them, and help them understand and remain in touch with the experience of women and underrepresented minorities in our academic climate.
The term of appointment is for two years with optional renewable terms. Advocate time and task commitments include the following:
- Attend Advocate for Gender Equity Training workshops
- Participate in periodic meetings with fellow advocates
- Lead two separate Ally facilitations, which run about 2 hours each, per academic year
- Read supplied materials relevant to campus climate, gender equity, bias, etc.
- Create an action plan, which includes reading, reflection and personal actions, to contribute to equity for women at Ohio State
- Consult periodically with members of the Advocate and Allies Advisory Council
- Advocate for equitable treatment of women faculty and staff on campus
