From countries as diverse as Norway and Niger, Kenya and Malaysia came testimonies that despite decades of work to achieve gender equality, there were still extremely high rates of rape and domestic violence and intimate femicide (the killing of a female partner) worldwide. The trafficking of young girls and women was in fact on the rise.
The strategy to engage men in changing gender culture is relatively new. Intensify such programs, say gender researchers.
A session titled “From the grassroots: How to engage men and boys in changing a gender-biased culture” presented evidence that both women and men benefit when men are engaged in structured gender awareness programs. Work with men in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa and urban Oslo in Norway showed success because men could see the benefit for themselves when pushing the envelope of gender stereotypes. When men can see that it is fun and makes them feel good to play an active role in caring for their children, for example, the positive effects ripple further.
The Resource Centre for Men in Norway reports data that for the first time a job satisfaction survey showed that the top career goal for men was to have more free time for family.
Media can help to make them care
But representatives from Nordic countries say the relative gender equality did not happen without the initial work of activists, then of policymakers. Mindsets could not have changed without a shift in media depictions. In societies with higher gender equality, even more needs to be done.
Panelists agreed that stereotypes about men also need to be broken down. Men are depicted as “have to be successful”, “have to have a big car”, “have to take risks and lead a robust life”. Also: a stereotype about men is that they are not adept at home chores.
Media on board
Internews journalism trainee, Racheal Nakitare, told the panel that gender activists are quick to point to stereotypes in the media. Nakitare says it needs to be acknowledged that the media is engaging with gender issues and stereotypes, for instance by writing about male circumcision. “What better way to engage men than ensuring they reduce the risk of HIV infection”, says Nakitare
Women themselves need to examine how they perpetuate stereotypes about women and men, said one of the panelists. In a community hall in a village on the East Coast of Africa and in the board rooms of cities in Europe, men and women are getting to know the rhetoric of gender equality, the key to change is to ensure that it goes beyond talk.
Useful links:
http://www.menengage.org/
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
The strategy to engage men in changing gender culture is relatively new. Intensify such programs, say gender researchers.
A session titled “From the grassroots: How to engage men and boys in changing a gender-biased culture” presented evidence that both women and men benefit when men are engaged in structured gender awareness programs. Work with men in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa and urban Oslo in Norway showed success because men could see the benefit for themselves when pushing the envelope of gender stereotypes. When men can see that it is fun and makes them feel good to play an active role in caring for their children, for example, the positive effects ripple further.
The Resource Centre for Men in Norway reports data that for the first time a job satisfaction survey showed that the top career goal for men was to have more free time for family.
Media can help to make them care
But representatives from Nordic countries say the relative gender equality did not happen without the initial work of activists, then of policymakers. Mindsets could not have changed without a shift in media depictions. In societies with higher gender equality, even more needs to be done.
Panelists agreed that stereotypes about men also need to be broken down. Men are depicted as “have to be successful”, “have to have a big car”, “have to take risks and lead a robust life”. Also: a stereotype about men is that they are not adept at home chores.
Media on board
Internews journalism trainee, Racheal Nakitare, told the panel that gender activists are quick to point to stereotypes in the media. Nakitare says it needs to be acknowledged that the media is engaging with gender issues and stereotypes, for instance by writing about male circumcision. “What better way to engage men than ensuring they reduce the risk of HIV infection”, says Nakitare
Women themselves need to examine how they perpetuate stereotypes about women and men, said one of the panelists. In a community hall in a village on the East Coast of Africa and in the board rooms of cities in Europe, men and women are getting to know the rhetoric of gender equality, the key to change is to ensure that it goes beyond talk.
Useful links:
http://www.menengage.org/
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
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