What A Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Teaches Us About Active Advocacy
There is often a question of how one becomes an active advocate of equity. This Olympics provides one unexpected source of corporate organizational change.
One of the best parts of the Olympics is its ability to amplify women and their sports acumen. For many women athletes, there are few opportunities for competitive professional play; the Olympics is the stage on which they can showcase their athleticism to the world, shattering the glass ceilings of sports.
And rightly so. This is the fourth consecutive Olympic Games where U.S. women competing outnumber the men, 315 to 279, respectively. As of Monday, July 29, 2024, 11 of the 20 medals were earned by women.
Yet, one of the most interesting parts of the games is not happening in competitions – it happened before the games even began. And no, I am not talking about the opening ceremony and the misinterpretation of French storytelling. It is an unexpected example of corporate allyship brought to us by hip-hop legend Flavor Flav.
Yes, you read that right. William Jonathan Drayton Jr., the 65-year-old hype man-turned-early 2000s reality star, representing one-third of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group Public Enemy, has become an amplifier of women’s sports. A flaunting example of active advocacy not just in name but in finances.
On July 1, 2024, Flav was named the official hype man of U.S. Women’s Water Polo. At the games, he will make several appearances in person and on social media as part of the agreement. The five-year partnership includes sponsorship and financial contribution to the 2024 USA Women’s Water Polo Olympic Team. Here are three takeaways that demonstrate the active advocacy of Flavor Flav and what those in positions of leadership and privilege can learn from.
Build Financial Commitment
The partnership began when water polo champion Maggie Steffens shared that many of the defending Olympic gold medalists and the 2024 world champion squad had two or three jobs to support their bid to Paris. Flav was quick to answer the call – offering financial support to the team. Because of his identity as a ‘girl dad,’ Flav recognized the unequal attention paid to women in sports.
While the financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, Flav’s sponsorship is an example of how recognizing the gender gap in pay and resources by someone with financial access and gender privilege is a necessary route to truly active advocacy. Recognizing the equity gap remains a challenge for men in the channel. In 2023 Women of the Channel research, 23 percent of men believe we have successfully achieved gender pay equality, compared to only 2 percent of women.
Put simply, how are we to lessen pay inequity when it remains unacknowledged by those who benefit from the gender pay gaps?
Put Yourself In Their Shoes
Empathy is an essential aspect of active advocacy. By truly listening to and, where possible, diving into the experiences and challenges faced by those we aim to advocate for, active participants in change are better able to identify and address systemic issues. Empathy builds a bridge over gaps between diverse perspectives, promoting collaboration and mutual respect.
Within his partnership agreement, Flav has taken to the pool, learning how the USA Women’s Water Polo team trains, putting himself in the lived experiences of the Olympians. And while he will not be competing on the international stage, his actions hold more impact because of his willingness to engage in a space he does not typically participate in. He became comfortable in a pool of the unknown. We should all be willing to swim in uncharted waters when claiming to be an advocate for equity.
Active corporate advocates use an empathetic approach to build trust and solidarity, encouraging a culture where those at the margins are valued and supported. Ultimately, empathy in allyship and advocacy leads to a more cohesive and resilient organization, capable of thriving in a diverse and dynamic landscape.
Continue To Show Up
The financial impact of Flav’s commitment remains to be seen, but an example has been set. For the next five years, the USA Women’s (and Men’s) Water Polo teams will have his social and financial support. As a strong, active advocate for pay parity, we all can learn how to show up for gender equity corporately. For change to be sustainable, the actions must be continuous, ongoing, and long-lived. Cheers to all the Olympians and their continued success in breaking through glass ceilings in sports and beyond.
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Image source: USA Water Polo 2024