Gender-Based Violence: Engaging Men and Boys for Lasting Social Behaviour Change
This is the first in a two-part investigation by ARC consultants Julia Hollander and Jehangir Ashraf into what happens when we engage men and boys to create lasting social behaviour change and tackle gender-based violence both from the top down and the bottom up.
Last year, nearly one in three women experienced intimate-partner violence at least once in her lifetime; and one in ten survived it. Gender-based violence – or ‘GBV,’ as it is more commonly known in the development/academic circles – is rooted in #GenderInequality, lack of respect for women’s #HumanRights, and patriarchal norms and ideas that shape how people are socialized. To challenge the harmful #GenderNorms and institutional structures that contribute to a world where GBV exists, it is critical to engage men and boys as allies to create lasting social behavior change, so that everyone can enjoy their fundamental human rights. Consider that 45% of people think that men should have more right to a job than women.
Programs that support and #EmpowerWomen can only be successful when they are accepted by the larger community and members understand the greater benefit to everyone. This kind of awareness-raising on #Gendered #Socialization can be an important step toward creating a world where women and girls are valued, equal and free from violence. A useful example of a programming framework for engaging men and boys by working through social behavior change has been developed and implemented by the @International Rescue Committee and can be found here.
However, it is important to acknowledge that working on social behavior change with men and boys must be guided by principles of support and accountability, and it must address all levels of the UN Women’s proposed ecological model, which points to a complex interplay of “biological, psychological, social, cultural, economic and political factors that increase women’s and girl’s likelihood for experiencing violence, as well as men’s likelihood for perpetrating violence.” Therefore, individuals must be given time to understand and process the impact that #gender socialization has had on themselves, women and girls, their communities, and society at large. Challenging deeply internalized beliefs related to gender norms can shake up one’s core belief systems and understanding of the world, and even of oneself. It takes time and holistic support to unlearn those beliefs, recognize one’s own skills and privilege and use it to stand up for #genderequality.
Author(s): Julia Hollaender, Jehangir Ashraf
