This is a question we get asked a lot. We hope that ALL entomologists will proudly express support for safe and inclusive meeting and research environments.
If you’ve read the meeting Code of Conduct, you’ll recognize that Ento-Allies aren’t just about gender; we are allies for issues of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We work on being good allies to everyone, regardless of whether or not we share certain characteristics.
Because being an Ento-Ally is a position of trust, we aren’t adding new Allies at this time. We have access to information that is confidential, so the fewer allies there are, the easier it is to maintain confidentiality. That doesn’t mean there aren’t LOTS of things you can do as an unofficial Ento-Ally.
The most helpful thing you can do is:
foster and support a culture of respect at our meetings.
If you are in a position to safely speak up, say something. It doesn’t have to be a major speech. Just a small statement can help establish that racism, sexism, or ableism at our meetings isn’t OK.
If someone reveals they have been a target of hostile behavior, remember to listen. Resist the temptation to try to solve problems for someone, or to assume that someone is “overreacting.”
Tell them: “I believe you. That was not OK. It is not your fault.”
Listen, learn, and then let the impacted person make their own decisions. Trust them to know what is best for themselves.
Ento-Allies 