Citation: The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality, United Nations Division for the Advancement

of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (December 2008). Researcher: Sagnik Dutta Primary Editor: Natasha Latiff Reviewer: Nishma Jethwa 1. How can I encourage men to take part? The negative impact of fixed ideas about gender roles on the relationship between men and women can be highlighted to involve men. It must be shown these fixed ideas put pressure on both men and women to live up to social expectations. Such pressures will affect the relationship between men and women in an unequal society. It is important to start discussions with the men and ask questions like how do they deal with these fixed ideas of masculinity? Think about: What are the barriers faced by men in becoming involved in a project of womens empowerment and emancipation? How is it possible to overcome these barriers? How does the involvement of men in care, support activities for women change the way they think about gender? 2. How can we break down ideas about masculinity? Gender-identities and roles are not fixed. Historically, there have been strict roles for men and women but these roles and responsibilities were constructed by society. Activists can encourage individuals to rethink gender roles by involving men in the process of this re-thinking. 4. Involving men - what does this mean in practice? For instance, a useful strategy to counter domestic violence could be involving men as partners in spreading awareness. Such involvement would help to change the gender stereotype of the aggressively masculine man and encourage them to think about violence from a different perspective, i.e. the womans perspective. Rather than make them the audience for womens awareness campaigns; ask them to design and deliver it instead! 5. What should be considered if such a strategy is to be used in more sensitive areas, such as violence against women or sexual health? Strategies to prevent violence against women must encourage men and boys to think about why such violence is accepted. The participation of men and boys in education programmes that use a variety of teaching approaches, can produce positive changes in mens attitudes and behaviours regarding violence. Activists can create strategies where men are actively involved

in gender sensitisation programmes in which they challenge the usual thinking and try to start a new conversation about violence. Think about: How can one understand gender equity while recognising gender differences? What is the place of men in the agenda of womens rights? In what ways can men be involved in projects that ensure gender equity? 6. How might gender equality affect wider social justice issues? Other social struggles are also related to womens struggles for gender equality. Beliefs about the power of the male over the female play an important role in other forms of injustice, for example of rich over poor, of one race over another. There are many forms of oppression example, racism and economic exploitation. Activists can discuss womens rights within the larger subject of oppression. Activists can gain support for gender equality by linking it to other forms of oppression in society. This is important as it highlights why and how gender equality affects everyone. In this way activists strategies to secure gender equity can be decided with the aim of securing wider social justice. Think about: How does womens freedom relate to other forms of social justice? How can activists create strategies which place issues of womens freedom in the wider context of social justice? How useful is it to link of womens freedom to social justice when thinking about (1) ending other forms of oppression and (2) creating strategies for womens equality? 7. What is the best way to involve men as service providers for women? While victims/ survivors may provide may prefer female service providers, it is clear that men will be involved in service provision, including as doctors, counsellors, emergency room attendants, psychologists, social workers and lawyers. It is important that these men receive gender sensitivity training as well as training on ways of communicating with victims/ survivors and/or understanding the needs of victims/ survivors, so that they can respond to these need in the best way possible. This role of men as service providers for women in need can encourage gender sensitivity among men by helping them understand and relate to womens suffering. This can help to break down the idea that violence is a part of masculinity. In some circumstances, it could be more appropriate to involve men at different points in the recovery process according to what the woman feels comfortable with. Mens relationship towards women should not be discussed and worked with by assuming that they are problems for women. Think of how men can be solutions to womens rights efforts. Think about What are the wider effects of involving men as service providers for women?

Does this lead to a breaking down of traditional gender identities? What role will this kind of specialised training for men play in terms of making them more sympathetic towards womens rights? Does such involvement go beyond just being another form of work for men? Does it become a key tool in creating real notions of gender equality?

8. How can we develop ideas about gender equality in other groups of men (i.e. not service providers)? Interactive learning can be used to instill gender equality. Activists can bring together groups of similar individuals in community settings to learn more about and discuss gender equality, gender relations, and sexuality. This can be in schools, residential care facilities or detention centers and prisons. An effective approach is providing interactive and experiential learning opportunities that allow time for reflection and discussion. Activists can also encourage ideas of gender equality among young men. The impact of ideas of gender equity can contribute significantly to the shaping of ideas about gender roles amongst young men. Think about: How can ideas of gender equality be introduced inside and outside of school or work context? What is your organization or project doing to include the participation of young men? What strategies can you think of to encourage their participation?