Real men don’t cry – or do they?

The MenEngage Symposium in Rio, as well as EngenderHealth, were highlighted in a new article from IRIN, the news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

"Men don't cry. Men take risks. Men don't ask for help. Men are strong. Men have many sexual partners. These stereotypes of masculinity are contributing to the spread of HIV throughout the world, experts warned at a recent symposium on men and boys."

Read the full article online, and also check our our blogging from the event.

Live from MenEngage Rio: Men, Masculinities, Globalization, Development and Social Justice

Posted by Theresa Castillo

On the surface, there was a great deal of academic talk about “patriarchal masculinities” and the “masculinity of hegemony” at the “Men, Masculinities, Globalization, Development and Social Justice” session today (April 4). But for me it was another opportunity to think about the ways in which stereotypes are created and perpetuated in our daily lives.

One speaker, Juan Guillermo Figueroa from Colegio de Mexico, likened the way we socialize men through sports and competition as the “gym academy.” Men are allowed to hug and kiss each other on the field, but are discouraged to display any emotion outside of this sports context. This example highlights the importance of building spaces for men and communities to address such gender norms.

The MAP program has several strategies in place that tackle these deep-rooted behaviors and advance the global movement for social justice by empowering both men and women. We need to build on such successful programs. With more than 450 people, representing 80 countries, the Rio call for action commands a unified voice to help us move forward in our work and remain mindful. The possibility for change is very much in our hands.

Live from MenEngage Rio: Gender and Masculinities in Post-Conflict Settings

Posted by Theresa Castillo

Throughout the day, the one salient theme echoed by many of the presenters was the concept of privilege—reminding me that it is impossible to talk about gender without referencing power and who holds it.

For those of us who develop gender programs, we must be aware of the social, political, and economic dynamics that exist within a community. Several research documents explore these complicated dynamics and we should rely upon them to inform our work.

In the session “Gender and Masculinities in Post-Conflict Settings,” presenters described the extreme violence that young men and boys experience daily in the most poverty- stricken areas. The stories they told were overwhelming. While the research presented was moving, informative, and demonstrated the great demand for targeted services, there was no guidance given for implementing programs focused on men and boys in these settings.

Traditionally, there has been a dearth of guiding documents in this area. However, recently MAP has made great efforts to address these issues, through its work to engage men and boys in post-conflict and emergency settings.

Our curriculum provides a space for health and social service providers to discuss and plan for these different circumstances, considering the cultural, social, and political contexts that impact gender-based violence and the HIV epidemic.

This session has made me more hopeful that in the future we can share our best practices and come up with effective strategies to help this community of young men and boys.

Live from MenEngage Rio: How the Privileges of Patriarchy Can Work Against Men

Posted by Eric Ramírez-Ferrero

On day four of the conference, the workshop that clearly stood out for me was, “Gender and Masculinity in Post-Conflict Settings.” In it, we examined experiences of men in war-torn societies, including post-genocide Rwanda, northern Uganda and eastern Congo, East Timor and Gaza.

One speaker used an interesting phrase, “gender against men,” to describe how strict notions of manhood are a liability to those men who fall outside of the limits it sets, men who don’t live up to the expectations inherent in “being a man.”

In post-conflict settings, such men might include those who have been the victims of sexual violence. The speaker from Uganda showed a moving video documenting the experience of one Congolese man (his identity was protected) who candidly described the horror of being held prisoner by the forces fighting in eastern Congo: Over a period of days, he was repeatedly gang-raped by soldiers. Though the physical trauma was beyond daunting, this man also knew that his perpetrators’ intention was to humiliate him, to diminish him, to demonstrate their power over him by putting him “in his place”—as a “woman.”

This sounded disturbingly familiar. We know that, ultimately, rape is about power, even when both the perpetrator and victim are men. As an anthropologist, I also found it fascinating how gender definitions are used to make sense of those who have power and those who don’t. It’s not merely academic - it plays out daily in the most devastating ways: In these and other post-conflict settings, men who aren’t willing to fight—to take up that traditionally “male” role –are feminized and subject to the same reign of terrors as women.

Unfortunately, the humiliation of male victims of sexual violence is further compounded when they seek counseling and care. The limited systems available (in this case United Nations missions) to support survivors of rape are closed to men. Indeed, support workers’ own definition of rape has excluded men as possible victims, and even those who did “get it” conceded that, “We have programs for women at-risk and for those who traumatized by sexual violence, but we have nothing for men.”

The same speaker explained that this is in part a result of what he called “patriarchal feminism” – a one-sided concept wherein only women are vulnerable. He went on to say that this is quite damaging for women, too, because it limits them to the role of victims rather than as agents of change. He seemed to be saying that many efforts to promote women’s equality actually reinforce traditional visions of womanhood and manhood (thus the “patriarchy”).

I agree with the speaker that, inadvertently, some “empowerment” efforts may reinforce rather than change norms. But the term “patriarchal feminism” sounds like plain old patriarchy to me, because there is no doubt that pervasive and age-old ideals of what women and men should be and do really DO oppress women! Yet this workshop made clear that we all need to be more conscientious of and concerned by how the meanings of “manhood” affect men, too. Clearly, they continue to benefit men in power, but they render other men even more vulnerable and sometimes invisible—and in the worst cases, beyond the safety net of services and support.

Live from MenEngage Rio: How do we focus on well-being?

Posted by Theresa Castillo

In today’s plenary session, “Including Men and Masculinities in Gender Equality Policies,” one of the speakers said something that really struck me. Annikenn Huitfeldt, the Minister of Gender Equality and Children in Norway, posed the question, “How do we move from discussing “being well” to focusing on well-being?” She challenged us to think about all of the factors that comprise a person’s well-being, and that lead to a family’s well-being.

In the context of male engagement, one aspect of well-being for many men is being able to be fully involved in family life, yet laws and policies don’t always support this. To support well-being for everyone—men, women, and families—national policies are needed in many, many countries that grant men paternity leave, that allow men to be present in labor and delivery rooms, even for something as simple has making sure that there are family diaper stations in public restrooms.

Ms. Huitfeldt’s speech illustrated perfectly the need to work at all levels to bring about change, and affirmed for me that in the Men As Partners program, we’re definitely on the right track.

What is 3FOR1? Watch our new video, and join us.

Today, EngenderHealth is launching the 3FOR1 campaign urging President Obama and
Congress to commit $1 billion to international family planning programs
in 2010. We're asking you to join us.

Family planning is a basic right. Yet, there are an estimated 201
million women worldwide who want to use it, but can't--they do not have
access. Changing this reality through increased U.S. investment can
bring significant short- and long-term returns: When women and couples
are able to plan their families, they have the chance to have healthier
and better-educated children and more productive lives, which can lead
to more stable and economically strong communities and countries.

President Obama has stated that he wants to change the way the United
States is viewed around the world. One way to demonstrate this is to
commit to improving women's health and welfare through a stepped-up
investment in family planning.

Right now, the U.S. budget for international family planning is not much
higher than it was in 1974, when adjusted for inflation. To keep up with
the large and growing need for family planning, we call on the
President to increase the U.S. contribution to this global effort to
$1 billion. This represents less than one twentieth of 1% of the
proposed 2010 federal budget--less than a penny per day for every American.

Help us ensure international family planning and reproductive health are
top priorities for the U.S. government. Watch EngenderHealth's new video
and write a letter to President Obama calling for $1 billion to be
dedicated to international family planning.

Voice of America Highlights EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® Program

Voice of America, a international radio and television broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government, profiled EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® program in a broadcast titled “South African Men’s Groups Fight to End Violence, Discrimination Against Women.” You can download an MP3 of the radio broadcast, or read it online.

“This month, women's rights advocates are calling on men and women to join together to fight gender discrimination. They're meeting in New York for the 53^rd session of the Committee on the Status of Women [March 2 – 13]. And in South Africa, two NGO's are reaching out to men to help end violence against women. They're also looking at ways to help reduce some of burdens borne by women, like providing almost all of the care for those with HIV/AIDS. From Washington, William Eagle reports.

“Johannesburg community activist Dumisani Rebombo says one out of six men in South Africa commit physical violence against women. Research by Witswatersrand University showed almost one third of sexually experienced women report their first encounter was not consensual.

“Rebombo is an organizer with the Men as Partners outreach group, part of the NGO EngenderHealth.”

Get the rest on Voice of America's web site.

Dumisani has previously appeared on Voice of America's "Healthy Living" television show. You can also hear his story, in his own words, on his digital story on YouTube, along with dozens of other men in our Men As Partners programs around the world.

International Women's Day 2009 and PAI

Population Action International (PAI), a well-respected partner organization in our field, has profiled one of EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® India videos -- Men Today, Men Tomorrow -- on their "Documentaries That Make A Difference" list for International Women's Day.

About the Video
In India, as in many parts of the world, a woman's increased vulnerability to HIV infection is largely a result of unequal gender roles. Male dominance in relationships, combined with peer pressure and traditional views of masculinity, often interferes with safe sexual practices. Furthermore, in India, rape occurs twice every minute, and nearly half of married men admit to physically abusing their wives. These problems transcend geography, economic status, and culture. Although many programs tackle these issues, they often focus on women and ignore the role of men.

EngenderHealth India saw this as an important opportunity. By partnering with local organizations, and adapting the global Men As Partners® (MAP) program, EngenderHealth developed community-based, peer-driven interventions with young men and boys. The results were dramatic: men thoughtfully engaged in discussions, role-playing, and games about gender issues. The MAP workshops created real change in participant’s attitudes toward women. Furthermore, as a gender-related HIV awareness and support program, it is the first of its kind in Asia.

Men Today, Men Tomorrow
Indian entertainment star Jaaved Jaffri hosts this short film, which uses interviews with HIV-positive men and their families to illustrate how EngenderHealth’s Men As Partners® in Positive Prevention program supports men in preventing HIV transmission.

CHAMPION Project Launches in Tanzania

What can communities do to help men become part of the solution for healthier families? These and other questions were debated at the launch of the EngenderHealth-led CHAMPION Project in Tanzania on February 17. More than 170 guests gathered at the Mövenpick Hotel in Dar es Salaam for the interactive event. The five-year CHAMPION Project, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), inspires men to become partners and leaders in combating some of the most serious reproductive health challenges in Tanzania, including HIV and AIDS.

“Men have long been acknowledged as providers, central players in the community, and on the world stage. But far less attention has been paid to men’s roles in promoting the health of the family.”
–Robert Cunnane, Director of the USAID Mission in Tanzania

Each invitation for the launch had the message “Be part of the solution” and a puzzle piece, which attendees were asked to bring to the event. At the launch, the puzzle was completed and revealed a photo of a male champion, a man who had taken an active, positive role in promoting health in his family and community. The completed puzzle illustrates that it takes a community to create champions. Other such champions were featured in a photo exhibition spread throughout the venue.

Officiating at the event, the Honorable Samwel Sitta, Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, noted that harmful gender stereotypes had greatly affected the country’s health systems and the health of individual citizens, accelerating the HIV epidemic.

Other attendees included Robert Cunnane, USAID Mission Director in Tanzania; Fatma Hadfidh Mrisho, Executive Chairman of the Tanzania Commission on AIDS; other government officials; and representatives of the donor community and religious organizations.

Turning From Past As Rapist To Advocacy Work

National Public Radio’s News and Notes program recently broadcast a story about South African Men As Partners® advocate Dumisani Rebombo. Listen to it online.

Turning From Past As Rapist To Advocacy Work

National Public Radio’s News and Notes program recently broadcast a story about South African Men As Partners® advocate Dumisani Rebombo. Listen to it online.

Video: HIV is Real and It's Around

Mogomotsi "Supreme" Mfalapitsa, a senior transformation agent at EngenderHealth in South Africa, works in our Men As Partners® program to reduce both HIV and gender inequality. He performed this original song about HIV and safe sex at the Mexico YouthForce pre-conference just before the 2008 International AIDS Conference. The video was filmed by Marius Juel Hovland. As Supreme says, “I am passionate about music being used to send positive messages and creating change in people's lives.”

Download a free MP3 version of Supreme's song.

Remorseful father fights to stop rape

Several media outlets have covered the personal transformation of Dumisani Rebombo, Senior Program Coordinator for EngenderHealth’s Men As Partners® program in South Africa, most recently the Toronto Star (quoted below) and the Huffington Post.

“Dumisani Rebombo is protective of his daughters. He wants them to be happy and marry men who treat them well. It's a dream most fathers have, but not an easy one to accomplish in South Africa. According to the country's Commission on Gender Equality, a woman is raped every 17 seconds. Rebombo knows this too well. That's why he wants to make sure his daughters don't meet someone like his younger self. "In my youth, my friends and I, we gang-raped a girl in the village where I was growing up," he says.”

Read the rest of the article.