But It Might Be On Smoko
Working alongside women doesn’t automatically make you a supporter. And staying neutral doesn’t always land the way you think it does.
Allyship had its moment. It was trending in HR documents, popping up in diversity training slides, and featured heavily around International Women’s Day. But lately? It’s gone a bit quiet. The buzz faded — and with it, so did a lot of the action.
Maybe we thought the job was done. Maybe we got tired of talking. Maybe it was easier to believe that just being a good bloke was enough — that if you weren’t actively making things harder for women, you are doing your part.
But if you think the gender gap’s been closed, you might need to do a compression test.
Knowing a Woman Isn’t the Same as Supporting Women
It’s a funny thing — how often we confuse proximity for participation.
It’s easy to feel like you’re doing your part — especially if the women in your life know you’re a good bloke. But allyship asks for more than intention. It asks for action, especially when it’s uncomfortable.
But support isn’t passive. It doesn’t sit quietly and hope for the best. It’s what happens when no one’s watching — in the workshop, in the group chat, in the moment when someone says something that doesn’t sit right.
It’s uncomfortable sometimes. That’s kind of the point.
Being Brave Doesn’t Always Look Like Much
There’s this idea that standing up for someone means making a big scene. Raising your voice. Risking your job.
But often, it’s smaller than that.
It’s a quiet “Hey mate, that’s not on.”
It’s making sure someone gets credit for their idea.
It’s paying attention to who’s always left out of the conversation.
And yeah, it might feel awkward. But awkward isn’t the worst thing that can happen.
Staying silent doesn’t always mean you agree — but to the person on the receiving end, it can feel like you do.
When It Works: The Quiet Shifts That Matter
Change doesn’t always come from a big speech. Sometimes it’s just one person saying, “Not cool,” in a moment when it would’ve been easier to say nothing.
There’s the supervisor who used to ignore the throwaway comments — until he realised the woman copping them wasn’t laughing along. One day, he cut it off with a simple, “We don’t talk like that here”. The room went quiet. But things changed after that.
And the mechanic who noticed the new apprentice hadn’t been given a fair go — not in a dramatic way, just in the subtle way people get overlooked. He handed her the tool, not the broom, and made it clear she was there to learn, not to prove herself.
The thing is: if no one says anything, the moment passes like it’s normal. The target doesn’t know you disagreed. The team takes silence as approval. Whatever was said becomes the truth — just because no one challenged it. And if you’re feeling uncomfortable, chances are — someone else already is.
Being a bystander isn’t neutral. It’s passive agreement, unless you interrupt the pattern.
And you don’t have to do it loudly. You just have to do it.
A Gap Between What We Think and What’s Really Felt
Here’s something interesting.
Men in Australia are far more likely to say they’ve done enough to support gender equality. That they’re already allies. That they’re doing what they can.
But ask the women they work with? Different story.
A lot of us are still carrying it. Doing the emotional work, raising the red flags, navigating systems that weren’t built for us. Not because we want to — but because someone has to.
That mismatch — between how much support is felt and how much is claimed — is where things fall apart.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect — Just Present
This isn’t a call-out. It’s more of a pause. A check-in.
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines thinking, “I support women,” that’s great. But have you shown it? Have you said it out loud when it mattered?
There’s no gold star for allyship. No finish line. Just a series of small choices that, over time, add up to culture change.
So if you’re unsure where to start — maybe just start there.
Next time something’s off, don’t let it slide.
You don’t have to be the loudest. Just don’t be silent.
Sources:
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Bridget Bell is a seasoned motorsport media professional and a skilled mechanic, with over a decade of experience in On-Air Hosting, Event Hosting, Television Presenting and Commentating. Passionate about supporting women in both the industry and motorsport, Bridget volunteers as a mentor and actively champions female representation.
Disclaimer: While due research has been conducted, the views expressed in our articles are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect everyone’s views. If you notice an error, please email quoting the blog article title and an explanation of the error.