Gender transformative approaches encourage men to identify more positive ways of being a man that result in sharing power with women and reducing violence against women and girls.
Changing gender relations requires men as well as women, and the structures and institutions within which both operate, to change. Consistent with global best practice,8 Pacific Women partners have integrated activities that purposefully engage men in reflection on
how unequal gender norms influence their lives. In the experience of partners, this type of change most typically occurs when women and men work together on shared goals.
Projects can engage men meaningfully in gender transformation by:
a. Working with existing leadership structures and social networks. The high status of men means they can wield significant positive influence, or block attempts to change. It is important to negotiate male leaders’ support at the start, while also ensuring that women are active participants in program leadership.
b. Making visible women’s contributions towards gender equality. This includes creating opportunities for men to collaborate with women’s groups to ensure that men’s efforts are accountable to women’s rights and empowerment, and to women themselves.
c. Adopting multiple strategies of working with both women and men. Strategies that have increased willingness to try new ways of behaving are family-based approaches, which require participation by a woman and a man from each household; and modelling women and men working together and sharing leadership.
Women Human Rights Defender, Serah Sapia, from the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation with male advocates in a group discussion during the 2019 Male Advocates Forum in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Photo Credit: Harjono Djoyobisono/International Women’s Development Agency.
Barola communities acting for change
Barola is notorious for roadblocks by gangs of youths, accompanied by harassment, and physical
and sexual violence. Fed-up community members reached out to the Kafe Urban Settlers Women’s Association (KUSWA), based on their reputation for
peace building, to tackle the issue. KUSWA took up the challenge.
Using photos, visual aids and storytelling over several sessions, the KUSWA Director and community leaders encouraged gang leaders to share why they resorted to criminal behaviour and to reflect on the negative impacts of their behaviour on their families, wives, children and female relatives, as well as on themselves.
In many cases, this was the first time for participants to reflect on these consequences. KUSWA then worked with gang leaders to identify changes they could make and sustain within their communities.
