John Stuart Mill is best known as a philosopher and mathematician. What is less known is that he was an early male ally in the cause for women’s rights. Through his essay “The Subjection of Women,” published in 1869, he critiques the status of women’s position in the social order. Mill is an early example of the importance of both sexes in questioning gender roles in society. AAUW is an organization that promotes the role of men as vital to the women’s movement.

AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund Program Manager Holly Kearl devotes a whole chapter of her book Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming for Women to the important part men can play in combating injustices against women. Chapter seven of Kearl’s book focuses a great deal on specific methods in which men can make a difference. In order to take men’s involvement to the next level, it is essential that men become actors in the struggle against abuse and degradation. Kearl’s book provides an excellent blueprint for this.

AAUW also actively works with male leaders to promote equality. In addition to welcoming male members to the organization, AAUW’s Public Policy department has worked with male policy makers in supporting legislation such as the Paycheck Fairness Act. This act has found support among many members of Congress such as Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Harkin spoke in support of the act in November. It is through this kind of outreach that AAUW supports and welcomes male allies who are helping to lead the fight for social change.

Looking at these instances, it is impossible not to see the influence of early thinkers such as Mill. AAUW, along with many other great organizations, provides a great testament to his moral and ethical conviction.

This post was written by AAUW ally Sean Crosbie.

This was posted in AAUW Dialog on January 12, 2011. 
http://blog-aauw.org/2011/01/12/male-allies/