How Gender Allyship Promotes Males’ Relational Wellbeing at Work

Abstract

Across the social sciences there have been growing calls for understanding the causes and consequences of involvement of males in gender-parity initiatives. We develop a theory of ideologically motivated intergroup behavior that highlights privilege attentiveness as a critical psychological mechanism predicting male allyship. In addition, we examine whether the relational benefits of allyship could counterbalance the previously studied costs and risks of engaging in this behavior at work. Using a sample of 248 males in supervisory/managerial roles across various industries and occupations in the United States, Study 1 finds that male privilege attentiveness mediates the effects of male liberalism on male allyship intention. Using a second sample of 376 males in supervisory/managerial roles, Study 2 shows that compared to conservative males who were reluctant to engage in allyship, liberal males experienced greater relational benefits as a consequence of their allyship.