Sadiq Khan tells GLAMOUR he wants men and boys to call each other out over misogynist language

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today launched a campaign calling for men to intervene when their friends use misogynistic language.

The ‘Say Maaate to a Mate’ campaign aims to empower men to tackle misogyny when they see it, helping to eradicate the culture of male violence against women.

Research commissioned by the Mayor found that 75% of young men in London had witnessed misogyny – 96% of whom had seen such behaviour among their family, friends and acquaintances – but only 24% of them would call it out every time.

Khan said, “My new campaign recognises that male violence against women and girls often starts with words. That’s why I’m determined to ensure that men and boys feel empowered to call out their mates when their behaviour crosses the line. ‘Maaate’ is a simple and effective intervention that can help stop problematic language and behaviour in its tracks.”

Tackling violence against women and girls has long been a priority for Khan, who launched the #HaveAWord campaign last year, encouraging young men and boys to intervene when they witnessed their friends using sexist language or behaviour.

Speaking to GLAMOUR, Sadiq Khan said, “If you deal with violence against women and girls as a public health issue, what do you do with the public health issue? You deal with the infection. So that’s where the enforcement’s very important. We stop it from spreading, but ideally, you stop the infection from occurring in the first place. So that’s what this conversation is about.”

He continued, “We’re trying to give men the tools when another may act in inappropriately or in a sexist misogynistic way. Cause I’m afraid it is a conveyor belt. We’ll start with men saying inappropriate things to other men. It’s a safe, safe space for men, and then that, that can escalate and so forth.