As I became more switched on to environmental issues in the 90s the eco-feminism movement crossed my radar. After reading Vandana Shiva and Susan Griffin I was (and lets be clear – remain) convinced that the natural world and human society would be vastly improved if women had an equal voice and power in our society. So based on my environmental convictions I felt confident to describe myself as a feminist, something that many men still seem to struggle to say. Job done, right?

Yet over the years there have been various instances that have made me question whether my understanding and behaviour matched my belief that I was a feminist. Me Too really brought into focus just how widespread sexual violence was, and still is. If there is a figure that stopped me, it was that 40% of women in the UK had experience unwanted sexual behaviour in the workspace. Two women out of five had experienced sexual harassment at work.   

Another stop and think moment for me has been talking to fathers of teenage girls. These dads, who would rarely stick their necks out, could identify the lack of sporting facilities for their girls (the local football club has 10 times fewer teams for girls than boys), and pick people up on any sexist language. As the father of two boys, I realised how hard it is to see discrimination and understand its impact if you aren’t experiencing it.

So what should a middle aged white man be doing to support women’s rights?

At a recent ‘friday social’ at work we talked about our sporting heroes – I didn’t really have one, but now realise I should have picked Andy Murray. First top male player to have a female coach, but more importantly, just so aware of gender inequality and how infused it is into our language and culture. On winning his second Olympic gold medal, he was asked what it felt like to be the first player to win two singles gold medals. His response: ‘first man, Serena has already won two’.   

How can we follow that lead? Apart from continually educating ourselves, I think the most important point is to also educate others. Calling out other people’s prejudices, especially if they are a friend, is awkward and difficult, but the Mayor of London has a great video on ‘saying maaaate to a mate’. We need to provide a firm and clear counterpoint to the growing online ‘manosphere’, real men should be proud to be feminists.

As women’s rights come under renewed pressure globally it becomes even more important that men continue to champion the rights of women. It will benefit our mothers, sisters, daughters and nieces, it will benefit the environment, and it will ultimately benefit us.