A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group has revealed that millennial men are the biggest advocates for women in the workplace looking to break the glass ceiling. Younger men are much more accustomed to assisting their women coworkers compared to the older male coworkers. Millennial men are also more likely to help out with childcare and encouraging a “dual-career” household.
The study, “How Millennial Men Can Help Break the Glass Ceiling,” surveyed over 17,500 men and women working in companies across the globe. The ratio of male to female respondents was about equal, including a large range of ages and diverse family structures.
The study found that men under the age of 40 are much more adapted to having female coworkers and are also more flexible than the older generations. 75 percent of millennial men were found to be more flexible when it came to meeting times and adjusting their schedules to accommodate employees, taking into consideration women with children, for example. Millennial men are also more inclined to ask for support and flexibility from their employers so they can take on both work and home responsibilities.
A willingness to help around the household has also become more prevalent with the millennial generation. One of the respondents stated, “Many young men increasingly want to take on a 50/50 split in responsibilities with their partner, take six months of parental leave, or work part-time, but they often find there’s a lack of support at companies. The focus can seem to just be on women and flexibility.”
Additionally, the study found that millennial men are more willing to change their behaviors in the workplace in order to make the gender diversity better. 75 percent of the men were not opposed to going through a training to reduce bias in order to help close this gap of discrimination. The study shows that cooperation and support from men makes this training more effective.
For how much the millennial generation is scrutinized and criticized, they are the closest to ending the gender gap and shattering the glass ceiling than any other generation. Women have been working toward this goal for decades, but it is necessary that men contribute to gender equality as well. All genders need to be working together to achieve gender equality. The millennial mindset predicts a more diverse and flexible employment environment for the future.
Despite these amazing findings, however, we must not assume that there is no more work to be done. We are still a long way from creating complete equality between the sexes, and this is definitely not the only area that needs equality. There is still discrimination in the workplace against minorities, the LGBTQ community, and others.
While many of the men understood the obstacles women face in the workplace, the study still states, “To be clear, however, we should point out that younger men are more in line with older men – and less in sync with women – on some of the other obstacles.”
This shows that there is still work to be done so that men and women are on the same wavelength. The more men support women and contribute to equal rights, the more progress will be made. This study shows a great step forward for gender equality in the workplace, but there is still plenty left to do in the fight for equality for all.
Featured Image by WOCinTech Chat on Flickr
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