One of the key issues arising from CSW57 has been the role of men and boys in preventing violence against women and girls. Anna McCormick, Programme Manager at SIHQ, examines the issue.
The socialisation and education of men is an important issue and something that needs to be addressed if we are to eradicate gender violence. The fight for equality is everybody’s fight, in order to create a peaceful, progressive and prosperous society.
Men and boys need to be just as concerned about the rights of women and girls, because it is an issue of society, not of only women. 99% of perpetrators of violence are men, so it certainly is not a woman’s issue. It has been proven again and again that gender equality benefits not just women and girls, but the whole of society.
If a human rights argument is not enough for some governments, then you would think they would act for development reasons. If for example women had equal access to farming land, agricultural output would increase, lifting many communities out of poverty. The healthcare costs of domestic violence in the US alone cost the country $5.8 billion per year. There is so much evidence proving that gender equality would lead to faster world development, yet many governments still remain short-sighted in the implementation of legislation, and lack in political will.
As NGO’s we need to be encouraging men to participate and be pro-actively engaged in women’s rights, to stand up, and fight for women because they care about society, and the world they live in. There is a great fear by men and boys that to get involved in women’s rights somehow reduces their masculinity and makes them appear emotional, weak or feminine, these perceptions need to be challenged. Men also need to be shown that they do not need to be scared of educated women, and that education is not a threat. In a patriarchal society men are used to being in control, and the release of that control, and hence realising the unknown, makes many men very unsure.
Organisations are being set up in order to educate men and raise awareness. In Uganda peace workshops are being set up in schools for boys to participate in to understand that there are other options to participating in a culture of violence that perpetuates in the country. Organisations such as MenEngage and Breakthrough are targeting men and boys specifically by raising awareness and providing education on human rights. Educational programmes for men and boys need to deal with perceptions at different levels; they need to challenge the masculinities of men and the stereotypes that have been shaped over years and years through society. Healthy masculinity needs to be promoted and understood.
The media must do a lot more to help in the fight, we are still seeing on a massive scale the objectification of women in the media and an acceptance that it is ok to continually use women as an object of property and sexuality. Women are continually misrepresented and there continues to be a lack of female influence in production so gender stereotypes continue to be reinforced.
Engaging men and boys in this struggle is vital, we need to see more men joining with us, standing up, and fighting for a better world, a world where women have equal rights, are treated with respect, and able to live a life free from violence.
Images: Top left – school boys take part in a march for women’s rights organised by SI Kodaikanal (India); Right: Georgi supports SI’s global day of action on violence against women and girls on International Women’s Day.