In this article, Rebekah MacLeod from White Ribbon Scotland, discusses why men and boys need to be part of the solution in eradicating violence against women and girls in Scotland.  

White Ribbon Scotland is a charity that seeks to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG) through the education and empowerment of men and boys. As I say at my training inputs, if women could have ended this by now, we would have. With the elimination of VAWG dependent of the involvement of men and boys, blaming tactics and pointing fingers will never be effective ways of working. We know that most men don’t commit or condone VAWG, but far too many stay silent about it. We have to encourage those boys and men to speak up, as their words and actions hold so much influence and power. 

Looking at the problem 

Too often, gender equality is seen as a fight that has already been won – in a recent poll, 47% of Britons stated that feminism has gone “far enough”, which is terrifying. Women in the UK still face a gender pay gap, rising domestic abuse rates, and persistent underrepresentation in leadership. Women take on the majority of unpaid care work, endure rampant misogyny online and in public life, and face stark inequalities in everything from healthcare to legal protections. If feminism had gone far enough, these injustices wouldn’t still be shaping women’s daily lives – true equality means dismantling these structural barriers. 

Asking men and boys to be part of the solution 

International Women’s Day is a crucial moment for recognising women’s achievements, whilst also reminding us how far we still have to go to achieve gender equality. With that in mind, I developed White Ribbon Scotland’s International Women’s Day campaign, “Am I part of the Solution? An Allyship Self-Assessment”. It acts like a “pop quiz”, and by answering the questions, you receive a score that determines what actions you can take to contribute to achieving gender equality.  

The quiz works by asking a series of multiple-choice questions about your attitudes, behaviours, and actions related to gender equality. Each answer is linked to a points system that places you in one of four categories: Newcomer, Learner, Supporter, or Advocate. Once you complete the quiz, you’ll receive tailored guidance on how to take your allyship further – whether that’s through learning more, speaking up, or actively driving change in your community. It’s designed to be a starting point – a way to help people recognise where they are, what they can do next, and how they can be part of the solution.  

Why we need everyone in the fight for gender equality  

This International Women’s Day, we are not centring men and boys; it is a day dedicated to celebrating and uplifting women. Instead, we need to ensure that men and boys know how to step up, reflect on their role within our unequal society, and take meaningful action that creates a safer and more equal world for women and girls. As a survivor of gender-based violence and someone who has worked extensively within the survivor-led and activism space, I know first-hand how vital it is to be part of a supportive and empowering community. But at times, it has felt like preaching to the converted. The real challenge, and the real opportunity for change, lies in reaching people beyond those that are already engaged. We need men and boys to join us and challenge the deep-rooted cultural norms and societal attitudes that enable gender inequality. This new quiz by White Ribbon Scotland is a step towards that. 

Allyship isn’t about claiming a label—it’s about action. This International Women’s Day, it’s time to ask: Are you part of the solution? 

Take the quiz: “Am I part of the Solution? An Allyship Self-Assessment”.