Background
The world is at a significant turning point. Voices that challenge systemic inequalities are rising to the forefront. People across the world are recognizing the urgent need to reimagine societies that are founded on the principles of equality and equity for all. Corporations are at the center of this change and must have leaders with the capabilities to flex their leadership styles to meet the needs of employees within a rapidly evolving workplace.
As thought leaders and drivers of innovation, companies across the globe continue to set new norms that redefine how equality can be experienced at the workplace. Gender equality is extremely integral to this process of reimagination. The time has come to ensure that the onus of promoting gender inclusion isn’t on women alone. There is a growing consensus on the need for men to participate in the advancement of gender equality at the workplace.
However, there is very little knowledge on how men can play this role. While fewer men challenge the need for gender inclusion, the most pivotal question raised by men today is, “What can I do to advance gender equality?”.
Overview
Blindspots is a training program that aims to create new norms that bridge the gap between thought and action. Its goal is to ensure that gender equality advocates evolve from being vocal allies to action oriented change-makers. It creates successful leaders who foster an organizational culture that celebrates diversity and equality.
Blindspots emphasizes the need to support men in leadership positions to identify tools for action. It recognizes that men in leadership roles have the power to pave the path for inclusion in organizations. It stems from the belief that a demonstrated commitment to gender inclusivity is integral for organizations to thrive. It equips leaders with answers to the question, “How can I take action as an advocate for gender equality?”.
Through a series of workshops, Blindspots provides men in leadership positions with a platform to listen, understand and educate themselves about the challenges posed to women at the workplace. Blindspots encourages men to make the issue of gender equality personal. It supports men to determine their purpose as gender equality allies. By engaging men to commit to actions for gender equality that are driven by a sense of personal passion, Blindspots ensures that leaders are personally invested in taking action for equality.
Impact
Through a self-reflective and collaborative training process, Blindspots aims to achieve the following outcomes:
Participants define and determine their role as gender equality allies in organizations.
Participants identify ongoing initiatives within the organization that support gender equality.
Participants identify ongoing norms and practices within the organization that hinder women’s advancement.
Participants design strategies and commit to actions that support gender inclusivity in the organization.
The goal of creating a gender equal and equitable world is the responsibility of both women and men. For too long, women were the most dominant figures in the movement for gender equality, while men were only seen as allies without a clear understanding of what tangible actions to take. Blindspots aims to remove all doubt.
Other Speaking & Consulting topics include…
LGBT & Sports: The Coming Out Process
As a former NFL player and one of the few openly gay former professional athletes, Wade shares his own coming out process and the work he does as an LGBT consultant for the NFL and as Executive Director of the You Can Play Project, an organization with partnership with including the NHL, MLS, CFL and others.
At Risk vs. At Promise: Defining Inner City Youth
When working in marginalized communities, the words and the language that we use matters, and how we talk about the young people we are trying to impact can determine how we show up – as social justice advocates or as saviors. Do we see their promise? Do we see them as we look at ourselves in the mirror? While working with marginalized youth at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, teaching at the Harvey Milk High School, and creating the country’s only inner city LGBT sports camp, Wade explains how to embody this idea of fictive kinship and see the promise in young people.
Masculinity: An Imaginary Friend
How do you define masculinity? Wade defines masculinity as an imaginary friend, and if left unchecked, masculinity can be highly toxic. Through his teachings and training, he’s learned we must do the work to unlearn the seductive nature of sexism and toxic masculinity, and move to create space for all without stigma and shame being attached. Wade talks about the work he’s done to undo the constraints of perceived masculinity, and move forward in a positive way.
Intentional Diversity & Inclusion
Have we emptied the true meaning of intersectionality by only changing the optics of organizations, without understanding the structural and institutional challenges that go unnoticed? Through practical and tangible examples, see how Wade can help your business evolve into a space where diversity and inclusion become part of your organizational DNA.
Sexism: How Ending Sexist Oppression Will Free Men
Far too often we imagine that ending sexism impacts only women. Yet if we re-imagine the gender roles and expand our understanding of masculinity and femininity, men benefit from the expansion: how they can show up in the world without the pressures of performing toxic forms of hyper masculinity. Wade explores his own dialog with feminism, tools to be pro-active about ending the sexist dialog, and leads conversation around the topic.
What people are saying…
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