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Mercy Global Concern - 2003
Mercy Global Concern: Briefing paper Number 2: August 2003
Role of
Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality
In the Beijing Declaration, adopted by the Fourth World Conference
on Women in 1995, governments expressed their determination to
encourage men to participate fully in all actions towards gender
equality (Para 25). The declaration emphasized that equal sharing
of responsibilities and a harmonious partnership between women
and men were critical to their well being and that of their families.
The Platform for Action emphasized the principle of shared power
and responsibility for women and men at home, in the workplace
and in the wider national and international arena. It stressed
that gender equality could only be achieved when men and women
worked together in partnership and the principle of equality
of women and men had to be integral to the socialization process.
Specific actions aim in particular at promoting harmonization
of work and family responsibility for women and men (Para 179);
at encouraging men to share equally in child care and household
work; at promoting programmes to educate and enable men to assume
their responsibilities to prevent HIV/AIDS and other STD (Para
108e).
In addition to emphasizing that policy-making processes required
the partnership of women and men at all levels, and that men
and boys had to be actively involved and encouraged in all efforts
to achieve the goals of the twenty-third session of the General
Assembly, adopted in 2000, identified a number of specific obstacles
in relation to the implementation of various critical areas of
concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. These included persistent
gender stereotyping which had led to insufficient encouragement
for men to reconcile professional and family responsibilities
and insufficient sharing of tasks and responsibilities by men
for care giving within the families, households and communities;
unequal power relationships between women and men, in which women
often did not have the power to insist on safe and responsible
sex practices, and lack of communication and understanding between
men and women on women's health needs.
Background
Over the past decade there has been a growing interest in the
role of men in promoting gender equality, in particular as the
achievement of gender equality is now seen as a societal responsibility
that concerns and should fully engage men as well as women. The
global commitment to gender equality reaffirmed in outcomes of
other major international conferences and summits, including
the Millennium Declaration, the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
against women (CEDAW) and ILO Conventions, have encouraged and
accelerated efforts in this regard.
The growing interest in the role of boys and men also occurred
with the shift in the work of gender equality from a focus on
advancing women's status to a focus on gender relations.
The gender approach allows for clarification of the roles commonly
associated with being male or female in public and private life,
and provides a basis for identifying differences and inequalities
between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities
undertaken, access to and control over resources as well as decision-making
opportunities. A better understanding of gender roles and related
structural inequalities increases opportunities for policy measures
and other actions aimed at overcoming such inequalities.
Changing patterns of production and reproduction
are also indicative of changes in gender relations which challenge
traditional images and expectations associated with men's - as
well as women's roles, such as those of breadwinner, care
giver, or head of the household. These developments increasingly
call for a re-assessment of the roles and responsibilities of
women and men. of stereotypical and traditional gender roles,
and of existing power relations between women and men. In creased
emphasis is also placed on men and women working together towards
gender equality.
The question of unequal power relations between
men and women as an obstacle to gender equality is receiving
increased attention, especially with regard to violence against
women. The role of men as perpetrators, and as actors in ending
gender based violence, has been studied by researchers, Governments
and UN entities. Sustained attention is also being paid to the
role of men in preventing HIV/AIDS infection among women and
girls, especially given asymmetric power relations between men
and women as reflected in women's subordination and vulnerability
to discrimination which increase their risk of infection.
In addition, increasing attention is being paid
to the role of men and boys in sharing the responsibilities to
provide comprehensive care to those infected with HIV/AIDS.
Family members - almost over whelming women and girls-
usually provide care services, which are often unrecognized and
unpaid. A disproportionate burden affects women's ability
to access and retain work and girls are forced to drop out of
school to take care of the family when one or both parents die
of AIDS. The implications of unequal distribution of care giving
between women and men in relation to HIV/AIDS in the household
and community, especially in worst affected countries may also
have economic implications. For example, in cases where women
do not have access to paid work or may be prohibited from inheriting
or owning property, a significant loss of economic support for
the family in the case of the death of a spouse or a father is
often the result. Men have therefore an important role to play
in promoting women's economic status and independence,
including access to employment, appropriate working conditions,
control of economic resources and full participation in decision-making.
It also requires a policy response based on gender equality and
empowerment of women and equitable distribution of paid and unpaid
work between women and men.
Men's role in enhancing women's reproductive
health and rights are also increasingly a focus of attention.
There is a growing recognition that the role of men is crucial
in challenging and changing, such unequal power relations, and
for effective interventions in these areas.
Full engagement of men and boys in achieving gender
equality requires much greater attention to gender stereotypes
and expectations about men's role and responsibilities,
and how these expectations influence male behavior. Such stereotypes
continue to place greater emphasis, as well as greater value,
on the role of men and boys in public life and in the work place,
as opposed to women's role in unpaid family labour, care
giving and community work.
Peer pressure, socialization processes and belief systems influence
adherence to gender-specific stereotypes. Ideas of the inferiority
or superiority of either of the sexes, and of stereotyped roles
for men and women not only limit progress in achieving gender
equality, but also perpetuate inequalities and can constitute
obstacles to men's abilities and opportunities for redressing
gender inequalities.
While prevention of violence against women, of HIV/AIDS infection,
and reconciliation of family and professional responsibilities
have so far received most attention, the role of men can have
decisive impact - in terms of promoting gender equality,
or constituting obstacles and challenges - in many other
areas. For example, unequal power relations continue to affect
opportunities for women's equal participation in decision-making
in many spheres, and at different levels. Gender stereotypes
continue to affect boys and girls' educational opportunity
and achievement, as well as expectations with regard to their
working lives, thus perpetuating inequalities.
Consideration of this topic in March 2004 will be the first
time that the Commission on the Status Women will focus specifically
on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality. The
session will therefore be an opportunity to build on the foundation
established in the Platform for Action and the outcome document
of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, as well
as in other intergovernmental processes, and to consider in a
comprehensive manner the challenges and opportunities men and
boys face in all parts of the world in contributing to achievement
of gender equality.
Objectives
- Analyze approaches and strategies that have so far successfully
focused on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality,
in different parts of the world.
- Identify persistent obstacles and challenges to men and
boys' full
participation to achieving gender equality;
- Analyze the extent to which factors such as poverty/welfare
and rural/urban areas influence gender relations.
- Determine the value of gender equality for men and boys.
Based on this analysis the meeting
will...
- Make proposals as to how existing approaches and strategies
focusing on the role of men and boys in areas such as prevention
of violence against women can be adapted and applied to other
areas, such as in particular the world of work, and HIV/AIDS
prevention, using good practice examples;
- Suggest means for overcoming resistance in shifts in power
relations between men and women, or mitigating their negative
effects, in overcoming stereotypes, and in enhancing socialization
processes that are supportive of men and boys' positive
role in gender equality, in particular in relation to HIV/AIDS
pandemic (prevention, treatment, care and support and social
stigma) and in relation to the world of work (paid and unpaid
labour, formal and informal sectors);
- Propose means for overcoming obstacles men and boys face in
contributing more actively towards gender equality. This will
include assessment of the role of Governments at different
levels and their use of various means such as legislation,
incentives,
policy and regulatory measures, and awareness raising means;
- Elaborate the roles of actors of civil society, including
the private sector, in overcoming challenges and obstacles
men face
in actively contributing towards gender equality.
Deirdre Mullan RSM
Director
Mercy Global Concern
Representing the Sisters of Mercy at the United Nations
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