It\u2019s clear there\u2019s continuing problems in our societies around gender. The principle of fair and equal treatment of people (where their gender is not relevant to the matter at hand) is often not fulfilled, to say the least. This state of affairs is in the vast majority due to\u00a0how men view and treat women<\/strong>. This seems the case for me both from speaking to women I know and wider studies on these matters.\u00a0Engineering and technology<\/strong>\u00a0is not immune, as seen in several widely reported stories about employees\u2019 unacceptable behaviour in industry last year. Problematic behaviours continue to be prevalent in\u00a0engineering courses in universities<\/a>\u00a0too.<\/p>\n At the same time, I\u2019ve also noticed that (myself included), it can be\u00a0confusing<\/strong>for men to know how to respond to these issues in the right way. I\u2019ve observed this from speaking to men I know, as well as observing statements from well known people in the press. Since we\u2019re all fallible humans, it\u2019s worth taking a kindly approach of trying to understand where people are at before telling them how they could change. I\u2019ve observed that the following can be points of confusion or hesitance (rightly or wrongly) for men, with regards to engaging in discussions or actions about gender equality:<\/p>\n Some of these, including the desire for irrefutable evidence and a \u2018doer rather than talker\u2019 mentality, are perhaps more prevalent in men who work in engineering.<\/p>\n For those who deny that gender equality is a serious matter that deserves our individual attention, and action, there is\u00a0evidence<\/strong>\u00a0for this from various studies and sources, such as\u00a0sexual harassment<\/a>\u00a0 and the\u00a0gender pay gap<\/a>\u00a0 in the UK, and a\u00a0plethora of issues worldwide<\/a>. For anecdotal evidence, I\u2019d suggest you\u00a0ask your female friends<\/strong>\u00a0whether they are always treated in the same way as men \u2013 listen, and ask them for suggestions on what one can do.<\/p>\n For those who are aware that this is an issue and\u00a0would like to contribute in a constructive way<\/strong>, then\u00a0this is for you!<\/strong>\u00a0Even though the majority of us are fundamentally decent people (and not the monsters who commit terrible crimes), there\u2019s always ways in which we can be better. Here are my personal suggestions for simple, everyday and tangible ways in which to ensure you\u2019re not treating someone unfairly because of their gender. Or simply,\u00a0\u2018how to be a positive man in 2018\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n This is by no means everything that one could\/should be doing \u2013 but it\u2019s alow-risk and positive first step<\/strong>. For more, the\u00a0He for She<\/a>\u00a0movement is a good place to start. As someone who is trying to do their best in these matters, I\u2019d really appreciate other suggestions and comments.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/engdes-student-insights\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/128\/2018\/01\/470px-Justin_Trudeau_June_13_2017.jpg\")
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