Pass the Mic: How Men Can Amplify Female Voices in Zoom Meetings
By: Ralinda Watts
Tags: Diversity, Zoom, Meetings, Communication, Gender Equality

Pass the Mic: How Men Can Amplify Female Voices in Zoom Meetings Ralinda Watts Follow Nov 2 · 3 min read

Two summers ago in graduate school, one of my male classmates, Tom, noticed my hand had been raised for several minutes waiting to be called on by our male professor. Seeing the exasperation on my face, he interrupted and said, “I think we should hear from Ralinda, I know I can learn from what she has to say.” Tom’s deliberate gesture in choosing to center my voice was significant, as it underscored the importance of how men can help to amplify female voices in settings where male voices tend to dominate the conversation.

As we continue to gather remotely for meetings via Zoom, the centering of male voices persists, contributing to the muting of female voices, where our perspective, experiences, and ideas are left out of the discussion. If female voices are to be amplified, it is imperative that men step up for women, just as my male classmate, Tom, did for me. To support a more equitable meeting environment, here are four tips to amplify female voices on Zoom:

1. Pass the mic

Men must speak up, speak out, and speak often to ensure female voices are heard. Now, this doesn’t mean speaking on behalf of women, instead, it means being observant of what’s happening, and intentionally working to disrupt systems and narratives that serve to place the contributions of women on the periphery. Striving for gender equality, can’t rest alone on the shoulders of women, so men can serve as allies who seek to dismantle harmful gender norms and stereotypes that impact the group dynamic.

2. Set meeting norms

Meetings should have norms that participants can adhere to. Norms help to provide clarity of expectations, as well as establishing meeting structure and transparency. Norms help to build relationships between participants while also holding them accountable for their actions. Teams can work together to create norms, as well as utilize the zoom hand raising feature and chat function to ensure there is an equal distribution of airtime.

3. Notice who is doing most of the talking

Building awareness of whose voice has or hasn’t been heard is an important step in identifying meeting patterns. If you see that the meetings are favoring or being dominated by male voices, use this as an opportunity to interrupt and redirect the focus to the group, as a strategy to ensure a more equitable distribution of voices and perspectives.

4. No mansplaining

Are you mansplaining? Take inventory on if you’re talking over, not listening to, or explaining for your female colleagues. Mansplaining reinforces that men are more knowledgeable than women, thus deserving of more airtime at meetings. I encourage men to find ways to use their male privilege to interrupt the harmful behavior.

Equal distribution of airtime at meetings is an essential first step in creating a positive organizational culture where the contributions of participants are respected, welcomed and valued. In zoom or in person, amplifying female voices supports meeting productivity, while also serving as a catalyst for diversity and innovation.

Ralinda Watts, a native of Los Angeles, is a diversity expert, consultant, educator and writer who works at the intersection of culture, identity, race, and justice, sparking thoughtful conversations on what matters most; authenticity! Her podcast, #RalindaSpeaks, is available on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Connect with me on IG & Twitter @Ralinda Speaks.