A new campaign, #LeanInTogether, is asking men to work with women in an effort to achieve gender equality. “When men lean in for equality, they win—and so does everybody else,” reads the campaign’s home page. “Men, show the world you’re in for equality. Women, celebrate men leaning in.”
Two years ago, Sheryl Sandberg published the wildly successful Lean In, pointing out the differences between genders in the workplace and at home and offering potential solutions for closing the gap between men and women. Shortly after, Sheryl began LeanIn.Org, the organization which launched the #LeanInTogether campaign less than a week ago. Partnering with the NBA and the WNBA, the goal of this campaign is to emphasize “the economic and social benefits men can gain from equality,” according to The Huffington Post.
Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA and WNBA, said in a press release, “Our players are committed to being the best fathers and husbands they can be. #LeanInTogether will help all men achieve this goal and create a better world for them and their families.” Using the faces of popular basketball players like Stephen Curry, Skylar Diggins, Dwayne Wade, Elena Delle Donne and Lebron James, this campaign will demonstrate the importance of supporting gender equality and pushing back against traditional gender roles.
When The Huffington Post asked Sheryl Sandberg why she chose to partner with the NBA and WNBA for this campaign, she answered that she wanted to bring the conversation to where men are already engaged and paying attention. However, players from the NBA and WNBA are not the only celebrities involved in supporting this campaign. Lena Dunham, Hillary Clinton and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are a few more powerful, well-known women getting involved with #LeanInTogether.
If you’re on board with gender equality in all areas—in your workplace, your relationships, your families, and everywhere else—then you should get involved in this campaign. Post a picture to social media demonstrating why you support gender equality or showing off a guy in your life who is leaning in for equality, and be sure to add the hashtag #LeanInTogether.