International Men's Day 2024

Women in the workforce spend a great deal of time championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. But International Men’s Day, celebrated on November 19, offers an opportunity to recognise the critical role men play in building equitable workplaces, while also celebrating valuable allies, colleagues, and friends.

The 2024 theme of International Men’s Day is Positive Role Models. It serves as a reminder that men can be, and often are, instrumental in creating environments where women feel supported, respected, and empowered to succeed.

Recognising male allies and advocates

Male allies are those who actively support gender equality and are willing to challenge the status quo, and play a pivotal role in promoting women’s advancement. Whether by advocating for fair promotion practices, supporting flexible work arrangements, or speaking up against biases, these men help create a work culture where women can thrive. Research has shown that workplaces with a strong culture of allyship report higher employee satisfaction and retention across all genders, not just women.

Male allies support gender equality by:

• Calling out gender biases in meetings or in hiring processes
• Mentoring and sponsoring talented women in their careers, opening doors for growth
• Promoting equal pay and transparency in compensation
• Valuing work-life balance and understanding the complexities of balancing family responsibilities, a challenge that often affects women disproportionately

These actions may seem small individually, but they add up to meaningful progress for women in the workplace.

The importance of male role models

Men as role models offer a different, yet equally important, perspective on success, resilience, and leadership. For boys and young men, having positive male figures to look up to—whether it’s a father, a brother, a teacher, or a mentor—can shape values that go on to impact entire communities.

Men who model compassion, empathy, strength, and integrity, foster environments that benefit everyone, especially the next generation.

Role models like these encourage boys to adopt a more inclusive outlook, understanding from an early age the value of equality and respect for women. When they enter the workforce with these values, they contribute to building workplaces that are welcoming for everyone.

Men’s wellbeing

International Men’s Day also shines a light on issues that affect men’s mental and physical wellbeing, a topic highlighted by the FSC’s Financial Resilience Index and Money & You research series.

Men often face pressures to conform to traditional notions of masculinity, which can deter them from seeking help or expressing vulnerability. Mental health issues, workplace stress, and even physical health concerns are sometimes overlooked for men due to these societal expectations, something that the Movember campaign highlights every November.

Whether as colleagues, partners, brothers, or friends, it’s important to support men’s health and wellbeing. Just as we advocate for ourselves, we also encourage men to prioritise their health, seek help when needed, and know that vulnerability is a sign of strength. In doing so, we create a more open and supportive environment for everyone.

Building an inclusive future together

International Men’s Day serves as an invitation for men and women to work together toward a more inclusive future. Gender equality is not solely a women’s issue; it’s a societal issue that benefits everyone. By collaborating, lifting each other up, and celebrating our differences and similarities, we can create a workplace culture that is diverse, resilient, and innovative.

Our Empower Women community and FSC Diversity and Inclusion are open to all male allies who would like to learn more, or volunteer time to progress better financial outcomes for women. Contact us on fsc@fsc.org.nz for more information.