March is here, and with it comes Women’s History Month — a time to honor the achievements of women while acknowledging the challenges they still face. While progress over the years has chipped away at gender inequities, there’s still one glaring gap: the need for male advocates.
Women’s equality has taken large strides since the movement's beginning in 1848. For example, U.S. women now represent 51% of the college-educated workforce among adults aged 25 and older, surpassing men at 49%, according to the Pew Research Center.
Despite this progress, gender disparities persist in leadership roles, pay equity and societal expectations. Beyond economics, women still face challenges like being overlooked or underestimated in male-dominated fields. This is when male advocacy becomes pivotal.
Evan Wall, a 21-year-old UF education senior, said he actively supports women’s equality daily, even when other men fail to do so.
“There are always so many jokes surrounding the capabilities of women,” he said. “I think many of the problems that women face, the vast majority of guys think it is not their problem, so they do not need to do anything.”
Wall’s perspective underscores the crucial role men can play in addressing gender inequities. The issue is that men who want to contribute don’t know where to start.
Here are three impactful ways men can actively chip in during Women’s History Month: advocate for and amplify women’s voices, challenge gender bias, and educate themselves and others on gender equity.
To amplify women’s voices, men can support them by sharing their achievements, ideas and stories. This could mean promoting women-led projects, recommending their work or simply acknowledging their contributions in personal and professional spaces.
What it means to challenge gender bias is to address and question stereotypes or biases you notice in conversations, media or workplaces. Small actions, like stopping harmful comments, can create meaningful change.
When educating yourself on gender equality, take the time to learn about the challenges women face and share that knowledge. Support initiatives and policies promoting gender equity — not just in March, but year-round.
“In an ideal world where there is gender equity, women would have the same jobs men do, and women can even walk the streets at night and not be afraid about what a man says or does,” Wall said.
Why not chase this ideal? Creating a future where gender equality thrives requires effort from everyone. Coming up with small goals to commit to this month to promote gender equality is one sure way to contribute.
Dominic Ho, a 20-year-old UF pre-law junior, said gender equality is an important topic, and he is dedicated to advancing gender equity through small, meaningful actions in his daily life.
“One thing that I could commit to doing this month to support gender equality is to ensure that women, whether at work or in a social setting, are able to feel safe around other people,” he said.
As Women’s History Month continues, let’s not only celebrate the achievements of women, but also commit to the work that still needs to be done. Gender equity is not a distant dream — it’s a shared responsibility.
The question remains: What will you do to make a difference — not just this month, but every day?
Isis Snow is a UF journalism and sports media junior
