Once upon a time, the "manel" -- defined as a non-diverse panel of men talking about their expertise in business -- was a non-inclusive practice of industry conferences. At this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The Female Quotient [FQ] is hosting its very own all-male panels during its Man@Cannes campaign series.
But, unlike traditional "manels," the men we are bringing together are diverse and will be tackling topics critical to achieving equality (that you don't often hear executive men discussing). Sessions include:
- Unpaid Labor: Are Men Willing to Share the Care at Home?
- Stop Calling Yourself an Ally: What are Men Actually Doing?
- Conscious Parenting: Do Men Have to Become "Girl Dads" to Care About Equality?
- On the Front Lines of Women's Reproductive Rights: Where Are All the Men?
But the FQ is inclusive by design, so why are we doing Man@Cannes? Based on recent FQ/Ipsos research, men are ready and willing to be part of these conversations and solutions. As we found in our M.A.L.E. Report (Men's Attitudes and Learnings on Equality), men (especially fathers) overwhelmingly care about -- and are taking actions for -- gender equality. Here are some of the key findings:
- 53% of men believe that workplaces across the USA should be doing more to eliminate biases in the workplace.
- 69% of men say they actively champion women in their day-to-day work.
- Nearly nine in ten (85%) fathers believe that both men and women should have equal access to parental leave after childbirth.
- Reproductive healthcare as a human right was shockingly high for fathers, sitting at around eight in ten (84%).
- Eight in ten (83%) fathers are willing to have conversations about equality, surpassing men (69%) and women (59%).
Through both our proprietary research and our Man@Cannes series, we hope to inspire more men to have these important conversations and take action. It's one small step for man, but a giant leap for humankind. Together, we can change the equation and close the gender gap.
The Man@Cannes panels will take place July 19, 20, 21 and 22 at 4 p.m. CEST. For more information on programming, visit FQ's Equality Lounge page or follow updates on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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