“Of course, the takeaway is not that we should increase harassment toward white men,” Cech said in the university’s article discussing the study findings. “Rather, white men who have had the unfortunate experience of being bullied or threatened at work might be unexpected allies in diversity and inclusion efforts.”
HR industry observers have long noted the importance of male allies, specifically, in curbing harmful workplace behavior. During a 2018 presentation, employment law attorney Jonathan Segal said that men have an opportunity to be “affirmative partners to stand up and speak out” about sexism, workplace discrimination and harassment.
