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FAIR SHARE: HOW MEN AND WOMEN CAN CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE WORKPLACE TOGETHER
W. Brad Johnson, PhD & David Smith PhD
Leveling the playing field—at home and at work.
The organization is broken. Decades of research show how women struggle to grow in their careers and move up into leadership positions, in part due to demands outside of work.
But it's not working for men either. Men want to be equal partners, present parents, and active community members outside of their careers. The "ideal worker" norms of the traditional workplace, though, expect men to be present and available 24/7. This disconnect means that even when men try to take part in flexible work arrangements, they're often stigmatized, leaving women to take up the slack and, again, miss out on professional opportunities.
If companies want to reach their full potential and achieve true fairness at work, the workplace must change—and it starts at the top. In this book, gender-in-the-workplace experts W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith offer a blueprint for how leaders can break down systemic barriers across the organization, from culture to policies, so that men can do more outside of paid work—and women can take their place in leadership. They suggest three key areas to focus on:
Rethinking company culture and the structure of work
Going all-in on caregiving options and benefits for employees
Operationalizing gender fairness through organizational process and policies
Filled with examples and interviews with both men and women, Fair Share offers a look at what organizations can become when leaders finally break down the obstacles holding everyone back. By working together, men and women can create a better workplace, one where every individual can achieve what they want—at work and at home.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT FAIR SHARE
“Fair Share is the book leaders need right now. Johnson and Smith offer a clear, courageous roadmap for redesigning work so both women and men can thrive. This is actionable, research-rich guidance for any organization serious about unlocking its full potential. A must-read for leaders who want workplaces that work.”
— Susan MacKenty Brady, best-selling author of Arrive and Thrive, Mastering Your Inner Critic, CEO, and international speaker
"With nearly three-quarters of today's workforce juggling caregiving responsibilities—from childcare to aging care to the growing ranks of sandwiched caregivers managing both—Fair Share could not be more timely. Smith and Johnson cut through decades of stalled progress to show us what genuine structural change looks like: workplaces redesigned around the reality of how people actually live, not outdated perceptions of the 'ideal worker.' This book makes clear that supporting caregivers isn't a perk or a kindness—it's a business imperative. Packed with research, practical strategies, and a compelling vision for a more caring future, Fair Share is essential reading for any leader ready to build a workplace where both careers and families can flourish."
— Jason Resendez, President & CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving
”Fair Share is a blueprint for building a future where caregiving and leadership go hand in hand. Brad Johnson and David Smith show that when responsibility is shared at home, opportunity expands at work. When men step into care, women can rise in leadership, and everyone thrives. This is how we create workplaces that work for all of us, not just some of us.”
— Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO, The Female Quotient
“Fair Share brings decades of research into sharp focus by showing that gender inequality at work is not a women’s problem, but an organizational one rooted in outdated assumptions about work and caregiving. Johnson and Smith offer a clear, practical roadmap for leaders who are ready to redesign work itself—rather than asking individuals to contort themselves around a broken system. By engaging men as full partners in this effort, the book shows how organizations can create more equitable—and more sustainable—outcomes for everyone.”
— Robin J. Ely, Diane Doerge Wilson Professor of Business Administration Emerita, Harvard Business School
"Fair Share is a readable and wonderfully hands-on guide to creating a gender-fair and care-friendly workplace, perfect for everyone in the C-suite and managers throughout an organization who realize both the business case and the human case for creating an environment that works for the 21st century talent pool."
— Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America and author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family
“Fair Share is a practical and inspiring roadmap for leaders who want workplaces where everyone can thrive. Johnson and Smith blend research, real-world examples, and actionable tools that any executive can put to work immediately. As a former CHRO, I value how clearly they connect equity to performance, trust, and culture. This is a must-read for leaders at every level.”
— Peter Fasolo, former Chief Human Resources Officer, Johnson & Johnson
”At Great Place to Work, we annually survey over 2 million people in 170 countries, and they all tell us the same thing. They want to work in an organization that cares for them as a person, not an employee. They trust a workplace that provides benefits, training, and flexibility based on what each of them needs to reach their full potential at work and beyond. Our research shows that these organizations deliver 8.5 times more revenue per employee than average workplaces. Johnson and Smith show that redesigning work for fairness is a leadership imperative that unlocks opportunity, shared caregiving, and sustainable performance for everyone. This book belongs on every executive's desk as a practical blueprint for building organizations where talent can thrive.”
— Michael C. Bush, Global, CEO, Great Place To Work
Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace
W. Brad Johnson, PhD & David Smith PhD
What’s missing from gender equality efforts? Men.
Women are at a disadvantage in the workplace, from unequal pay to sexual harassment to the inability to be promoted in a fair and timely manner. And while organizations are looking to fix the issue, too many gender inclusion initiatives focus exclusively on changing women, leaving men out of the equation. Such efforts reinforce the perception that these are “women’s issues” and that men—often the most powerful stakeholders in organizations—don’t need to be involved.
As gender in the workplace experts David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson show in this crucial book, men have a profound opportunity to promote gender equality at work. Research shows that when men are deliberately engaged in gender inclusion programs, 96% of women in those organizations perceive real progress on gender equality, compared with only 30% of women in organizations without strong male engagement.
Good Guys is the first book to provide a research-based and practical guide for how to be a male ally to women in the workplace. Filled with first-hand accounts from both men and women and tips for getting started, this book shows how men can partner with women to advance women’s leadership by breaking ingrained gender stereotypes, overcoming unconscious biases, developing and supporting the talented women around them, and creating productive working relationships with women—especially in a post-#MeToo world.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT GOOD GUYS
—Gold Medal Winner for Best Human Resources/Employee Training Book in the 2021 Axiom Business Book Awards
—Named one of the Globe & Mail's "Best Business Books of 2020"
—Named one of Behavioral Scientist's "Notable Books of 2020"
"…readers of all ranks and levels of leadership in the military will benefit from this important, timely, and welcome book on how to work with women and help them advance professionally."
— Proceedings magazine, U.S. Naval Institute
"As long as gender inequality is a "women's issue," men aren't going to feel any responsibility to fix it—and that has to change, write assistant sociology professor Smith and psychology professor Johnson (co-authors, Athena Rising) in this persuasive call to arms."
— Publisher's Weekly
"Men who care about gender equality often ask, 'How can I be a better colleague to the women I work with?' Good Guys is the playbook for how to do that, filled with practical advice and wisdom from leaders across many backgrounds. If you want to do your part to build a more equal and inclusive workplace, this book will help."
— Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook; founder, LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org
"Thank you, David Smith and Brad Johnson, for giving us a practical, evidence-based guide for what men can—and must—do to support women at work, at home, and in our communities."
— Stew Friedman, organizational psychologist and Practice Professor of Management, Emeritus, The Wharton School; bestselling author, Total Leadership
"An amazing how-to book to pivot equality in our homes, offices, and societies. Smith and Johnson offer indispensable advice for how to achieve gender parity—both because it's the right thing to do and it's the smart thing to do."
— Dana Born, Codirector, Center for Public Leadership, and lecturer in public policy, Harvard Kennedy School
"Many men want to be better allies to women, but we aren't always sure where to begin. Look no further than this book by two excellent guides who draw on their expertise as social scientists, their experiences in organizations, and their interviews with women to show how we can all improve in our efforts to level the playing field."
— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author, Give and Take and Originals; host of the TED podcast, WorkLife with Adam Grant
Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women
W. Brad Johnson, PhD & David Smith PhD
Increasingly, new employees and junior members of any profession are encouraged—sometimes stridently—to “find a mentor!” Four decades of research reveals that the effects of mentorship can be profound and enduring; strong mentoring relationships have the capacity to transform individuals and entire organizations. Organizations that retain and promote top talent—both female and male—are more likely to thrive.
But the mentoring landscape is unequal. Evidence consistently shows that women face more barriers in securing mentorships than men, and when they do find a mentor, they may reap a narrower range of both career and psychological benefits. Athena Rising is a book for men about how to mentor women deliberately and effectively. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense manual for helping men of all institutions, organizations, and businesses to become excellent mentors to women.
Co-authors W. Brad Johnson, PhD, and David Smith, PhD, draw from extensive research and years of experience as experts in mentoring relationships and gender workplace issues. When a man mentors a woman, they explain, the relationship is often complicated by conventional gender roles and at times hostile external perceptions. Traditional notions of mentoring are often modeled on male-to-male relationships—the sort that begin on the golf course, involve a nearly exclusive focus on career achievement, and include more than a few slaps on the back over drinks after work. But women often report a desire for mentoring that integrates career and family aspects of life. Women want a mentor who not only “gets” this, but truly honors it.
Men need to fully appreciate just how crucial their support of promising junior women can be in helping them to persist, promote, and thrive in their vocations and organizations. As women succeed, lean in, and assume leading roles in any organization or work context, that culture will become more egalitarian, effective, and prone to retaining top talent.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ATHENA RISING
—Named one of the 25 books that everyone should read according to Inc.com and TED Speakers
—Mentioned on the Commander US Central Command and the Commander US Pacific Command Reading Lists
"Athena Rising reminds us that when men lean in for equality, we all benefit. Brad Johnson and David Smith have written a powerful and practical guide for men on the steps that will make a big difference for organizations and for women."
— Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and Founder of LeanIn.Org
“David Smith and Brad Johnson’s book captures precisely what Catalyst research has revealed for years: It’s a win-win solution when men take intentional action to serve as mentors and sponsors, helping to accelerate progress for women in the workplace. Leaders can no longer focus only on those who look like them; mentoring and developing all talent must become a core part of any organization’s leadership style. Through engaging insights from global leaders and practical tips for men, Smith and Johnson echo Catalyst’s long-standing point that when men are part of the solution—recognizing privilege and proactively championing gender equality within their organizations—that’s when real change can occur.”
— Deborah Gillis, President & Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst
“A definitive, practical guide for every man who wants to work more effectively with women. This is a book guys didn’t know we were waiting for, and it’s finally here!”
— Chuck Shelton, Chief Executive Officer, Greatheart Consulting
”Brad Johnson and David Smith have served up an exceptional treatise and handbook for male executives to learn how to become mentors to rising women of promise in all our organizations. Athena Rising is written in a captivating style while providing a practical, step by step mentoring implementation plan to advance female stars in the workplace. It should be a must read for male executive training.”
— Louis Freeh, Former Director, FBI
"Finally someone has tackled the central issue to women's advancement at work: why don't men champion female talent like they do for other men? Athena Rising answers that question and -- through story-telling and research -- inspires men to rethink reluctance and mentor for the good of their female colleagues, their companies, and, ultimately, themselves."
— Kat Gordon, Founder, The 3% Movement
”Women who have mentors are more likely to get promoted, and male mentors are key to advancement since men remain in the majority of leadership positions. Johnson’s and Smith’s manual for men on how to mentor women is especially relevant in light of a LeanIn.org study that finds one in six men are uncomfortable mentoring women after #MeToo.”
— Shelley Zalis, Forbes Women (Review)
“First-time authors Johnson and Smith, both professors at the U.S. Naval Academy, hit a home run with this no-nonsense, timely guide that will benefit any man who wants to more effectively mentor or manage women in the workforce. Boldly stating that “traditionally masculine ‘command and control’ structures of hierarchical management are yesterday’s news,” and starting with a tutorial on self-awareness, the authors help the reader understand factors that harm women’s careers and interfere with productive mentoring or management relationships. Seeking to illustrate “pervasive and pernicious attitudes” in the workplace, they tackle the stereotypes of women being too nice or not assertive enough, the “double jeopardy” of racial and gender bias, and the role of maternity. Then, drawing on academic research as well as real-life stories from senior-level women in organizations such as Coca-Cola, Sodexo, KPMG, NASA, and various branches of the military, the authors offer practical ways for mentors to lead, interact with, and champion women so they can succeed. Filled with useful advice and backed up by academic research, this handbook should be on every male business leader’s reading list.”
— Publishers Weekly (Review)