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(1) A thread: What do I do if I am a man and part of a manel?
I have decided to do a short thread for my lovely male-friend-activists who have found themselves stuck on manels (all-men/male panels) and may have received a 'torrent of messages' about leaving manels.
I have decided to do a short thread for my lovely male-friend-activists who have found themselves stuck on manels (all-men/male panels) and may have received a 'torrent of messages' about leaving manels.
(2) Check if your panel only features all men. This happens. Of course, do your due diligence and ask why are there only 'men' on the panel or only people of one ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression? What is your topic? Are you really 'that' important?
(3) If your panel is about a specific subject matter, you and the other men on your panel should join forces and locate the other women, other people from queer communities, different ethnicities that can speak on this matter. New voices break your forum echo chamber. Do that.
(4) OK. Good job. Now that you and your manel crew did a good job locating the other people who could be on your panel, make sure you give your organizers this list. Vouch for them, say they are very good in their field. Why?
(5) Pro tip: when women, queer people, ethnic minorities get an invite to a panel, we would hope to be invited because of our qualifications, experience and expertise.
Not because you needed 'gender balance' or a non-Malay face. So make sure they know
Not because you needed 'gender balance' or a non-Malay face. So make sure they know
(6) As part of this manel, you really are doing a service to your organizers, your community, your audience when you all start looking out for a more diverse panel. Your list of speakers will be invaluable to the organizers. You are giving someone a chance to build new networks
(7) After doing 1-6, I would highly recommend that you speak to your organizers and tell them that you have a fantastic list of women, queer, ethnic minority speakers that are experts. You will be vacating the spot for them.
There will be other panels. All is not lost.
There will be other panels. All is not lost.
(8) If you REALLY really want to be on that panel, then get the other guy to quit the panel. And tell him
"There will be other panels. All is not lost."
(But you should take the step to quit the panel because there will be other panels, you're making inclusivity more tangible)
"There will be other panels. All is not lost."
(But you should take the step to quit the panel because there will be other panels, you're making inclusivity more tangible)
