The Drum Beat 375 - Boys and Men

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This issue of The Drum Beat explores action, thinking, and resources that highlight the use of communication to support the social development of boys and men in relation to gender roles, gender equity, violence against women, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS.

Please send information on other communication initiatives, evaluations, events and resources related to gender issues to drumbeat@comminit.com

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ADDRESSING MASCULINITY

1. Boys To Men: Conference Final Report - Media Messages About Masculinity
The 1999 Children & the Media conference was organised around 3 themes: 'Breaking the Boy Code' addressed media representations of men's emotions and their relationships; 'Boy Meets World' considered how the media portrays masculine success and reinforces masculine ideals and values; and 'Must Boys be Boys?' focused on the arena of action, adventure, and aggression, and explored the potential for such a genre without violence. This report suggests that, while the media may not be to blame for the status of boys today, it does indeed reinforce society's notions about manliness and masculinity.

2. Redefining Masculinity in Era of HIV/Aids
This article outlines the discussion held at a 3-day conference organised by the Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa of Voluntary Services Overseas (RAISA/VSO). The kinds of questions explored during the discussion concerned the role of men in caring for and supporting those suffering with HIV/AIDS, as well as the concept of masculinity, more broadly. Participants concluded that the meaning of "masculine" must be reconceived in order to bolster men's self-esteem and to empower men to "take active community responsibility".

3. Dying to be Men: Youth and Masculinity and Social Exclusion
by Gary T. Barker
Based on field research and interviews in the United States and Brazil, Dying to be Men explores how manhood or male identity is shaped in economically poor urban settings, how it is that some young men resist the prevailing norms, what the implications are for social policy and, given the above, what may be the most important forms of intervention.

4. Social Construction of Condom Non-Use: Implications for Condom Promotion Interventions in Bangladesh
by Sharful Islam Khan, Nancy Hudson-Rodd, Sherry Saggers & Abbas Bhuiya
This article attempts to explain reasons for condom non-use in the local socio-cultural, structural and political context through qualitative interviews with men of diverse socio-demographic, economic and occupational backgrounds from both urban and rural Bangladesh. The purpose is to expose some of the social "scripts" that determine men's resistance to condom use. The authors suggest that individually focused condom interventions are ineffectual because they do not address social and masculine dimensions of male sexuality.

Also See:

5. Beautiful Gate - South Africa

6. Fathers Incorporated - Jamaica

7. Where Masculinity is in Play - Latin America

AS ACTORS IN GENDER EQUITY

8. Men's Traveling Conference - Eastern and Southern Africa
In an effort to mobilise groups of men to combat gender discrimination, The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) enabled more than 100 men - faith leaders, policemen, lawyers, sportsmen, artists, students, and persons living with HIV/AIDS aged between 19 and 81 from Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa - to travel across eastern and southern Africa. These men sought to raise awareness and mobilise other men to support gender equality and end gender-based violence.
Contact Njoki Wainaina communication@femnet.or.ke

9. Archived Discussion: Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality
This was an online discussion held from June 30 to July 25 2003. The contributions to this discussion are available as an archive of all messages, as a weekly summary archive, and in the form of a final report - all available online.

10. The Policy Environment for Male Youth in Jamaica: Findings from a Pilot of the Gender Equitable Male Involvement (GEMI) Tool
by Anne Eckman, Lute Kazembe, Kathy McClure & Karen Hardee
This report shares findings from a pilot of the POLICY Project's Gender Equitable Male Involvement (GEMI) Assessment Tool. In October 2002, the POLICY Project used the GEMI tool to conduct an assessment of the policy situation related to GEMI in Jamaica, with a focus on male youth. Based on interviews with key stakeholders from a cross-section of government, civil society, and youth-serving organisations, the assessment sought to describe the current policy conditions related to GEMI and to identify relevant priority areas for developing or strengthening supportive policies as well as the related advocacy and policy dialogue, information, and capacity building needed to support this process. The findings are organised in 3 key sections: Male Involvement and Priority Issues in the Jamaican Context; Current Male Involvement in Programming; and The Current Policy Setting for Male Involvement.

Also See:

11. The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality: Report of the Expert Group Meeting, Brasilia, Brazil, October 2003

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REDUCING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

12. The South Africa Men as Partners Network: Mobilising Men For Gender Justice During 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women
by Kristy Siegfried
This article discusses some of the strategies used by the EngenderHealth's Men as Partners Network in South Africa during and beyond the 16 Days of No Violence Against Women, an annual event to raise awareness on the issue of violence against women and children. The strategies include: education and advanced "Men as Partners" (MAP) workshops; community interventions (art projects, theatre, radio); media advocacy; and community action teams - groups of men who have been through MAP training that meet monthly, not only to provide each other with support systems, but to agree on taking some type of action in their communities.

13. Salud y Género - Mexico
This organisation has been working since 1995 to reduce gender-based violence and improve men's support for women's reproductive health. In addition to advocating new models of masculine behaviour, the organisation conducts all-male and mixed-sex discussion groups that use interpersonal strategies to raise awareness of the gender and health connection, and to shift attitudes and practices with regard to violence against women. Salud y Género uses these strategies not only to involve men, but to challenge them to examine their assumptions of masculinity and of their right to greater power than women, and to explore the effect of these assumptions on their own health and that of their female partners.
Contact salygen@prodigy.net.mx

14. Guy-to-Guy Project - Brazil
The Brazil-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Instituto PROMUNDO is working to engage young men as change agents in gender-based violence prevention and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health. The change agents - or peer promoters - are young men from low-income areas of Rio de Janeiro who reach other young men with educational materials, condoms, a lifestyle magazine, and a play. The project is an effort to convince young men - through peer-based communication strategies - that they can be different from other young men who resort to violence against each other or women.
Contact promundo@promundo.org.br

15. Undoing Sexism: Involving Men in the Battle Against Domestic Violence
by Malini Sen
This article suggests that communications practitioners - in India, especially - need to consider interventions that are designed to stop men and boys from using aggression in the first place (that is, "primary prevention") instead of focusing on women's responsibility for "policing" men's violence against them. The author here describes and endorses programmes that attempt to move men away from violence through treatment and/or education.

16. Child Rights and Responsibilities Education & Prevention Project (CR&RP) - South Africa
This Childline initiative aims to create a culture of child rights in South African communities by raising awareness of "the magic of children and the importance of protecting their innocence". It centres around training programmes that are designed to develop the skills of parents, educators and children, as well as the maximisation of related media and marketing opportunities. The key focus of CR&RP is prevention of, and education about, child abuse. Childline maintains that research and on-the-ground experience have revealed that a large number of boys in South Africa are being sexually abused. They estimate that an abused boy is 4 times more likely to then subsequently abuse others if he remains silent and unsupported through his ordeal.
Contact Annette Brokensha infogauteng@childline.org.za

Also See:

17. Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention & Training (ADAPT) - South Africa

18. Men to Men Consultation on Gender Based Violence - Kenya

19. Case-study: Guy to Guy Project

ADVOCATING FAMILY PLANNING & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

20. Reaching Men Worldwide: Lessons Learned from Family Planning and Communication Projects (1986-1996)
This paper is premised on the idea that men can significantly influence reproductive decisions and play an important role in family planning practices. In this context, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP) notes, men need to be addressed in their roles as individuals, as husbands and fathers, as community leaders, and as government leaders. This publication reviews 20 programmes in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Near East, and the New Independent States implemented by CCP and shares key lessons learned from this experience in communicating with men about reproductive health.

21. In Their Own Right: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Men Worldwide
Based on data from nationally representative surveys conducted between the mid-1990s and 2001, as well as on a growing body of qualitative studies of men's attitudes, values and behaviour with regard to sexual and reproductive health, this report aims to be a comprehensive resource on men's sexual and reproductive behaviour and needs, encompassing men aged 15-54 in 45 developing and developed countries from sexual initiation through marriage and parenthood.

22. Three Case Studies: Involving Men to Address Gender Inequities
This paper highlights 3 programmes - Salud y Género of Mexico, the Society for the Integrated Development of the Himalayas (SIDH) in India, and the Stepping Stones programme, first developed in Uganda - that have engaged men and boys in efforts to improve reproductive health outcomes for both men and women. Though planned and implemented in different geographic regions within different cultural contexts, these programmes share a number of features. For example, they include a sequence of ideas and activities that draw participants into the change process. Further, as participatory programmes, all of them require facilitators of the community process to also be participants and to acknowledge, face, and resolve their individual challenges.

23. Youth Activists Organisation - Zambia
Since 1998, the Youth Football and Sexual Reproductive Health Camp of the Youth Activists Organisation has worked to educate boys aged 14-24 years. The purpose of the programme is to increase men's participation in sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, and child health issues in their families/communities. The boys are trained to be peer educators and are encouraged to reach their peers. This training includes: clarification of the educators' expected roles; opportunities to practice presentations on key topics such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)/HIV/AIDS and sexuality, care and support for people living with AIDS; and skills-building exercises such as correct condom use. In addition, the boys are taught how to start clubs and societies that work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Contact Clement Bwalya yao@zamnet.zm

24. Men and Reproductive Health Programs: Influencing Gender Norms
by Victoria White, Dr. Margaret Greene & Dr. Elaine Murphy
This report highlights 14 programmes designed to change social norms related to entrenched gender roles. It explains the methodologies each programme employed to achieve this goal and presents findings from evaluations conducted to assess their efficacy.

25. Impact Data - Men in Maternity - India and South Africa
This study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and cost effectiveness of incorporating men as active partners in the prenatal and postpartum care of their partners. The study investigated the effect of shifting the health care service's focus to couples (as opposed to women alone) on male and female reproductive health and selected infant health indicators. In India, intervention women and men reported more communication on infant health, breastfeeding, and family planning (FP) issues. Significantly more men and women from the intervention group reported client-provider discussions during maternity care, and more reported antenatal discussions on FP. Postpartum FP use was significantly higher among couples in the intervention group, with the largest increase in condom use. The establishment of a universal syphilis screening programme yielded a significant increase in testing pregnant women; more than 90% of intervention women compared with 16% of those in control clinics were tested. Husbands' involvement was significantly higher in the intervention group during antenatal and FP consultations, postpartum visits, and during labour and delivery. Presence during physical examination remained low in both groups.

26. Men's Talk about "Women's Matters": Gender, Communication, and Contraception in Urban Mozambique
by Victor Agadjanian
This study investigates the role of men in reproductive and contraceptive changes in urban Mozambique by analysing man-to-man communication on FP issues. The literature on the issues related to FP in sub-Saharan Africa does indeed recognise male partners' opinions and choices as an important factor in shaping couples’ reproductive and contraceptive practices. However, according to the author of this study, previous research has rarely investigated the precise mechanisms through which the opinions and attitudes of men on these issues are formed. The present study begins from an assumption that the role of man-to-man informal social interaction, especially verbal communication, is crucial in forming men's FP-related knowledge, attitudes, and preferences. Theoretically, the study relies on the social interaction literature, which establishes that informal interaction among peers compensates for insufficient and unfamiliar information communicated from formal sources (e.g., government health agencies).

27. The Men in Young Women's Lives: Findings from Adolescent Reproductive Health Intervention Studies in India
This brief from the International Center for Research on Women contains updates from 5 ongoing intervention studies across India that examine how men's involvement can affect young women's reproductive health. The findings show fathers to be strong supporters of programmes designed to increase their daughters' skills and well-being, including sexual health. Additionally, an education programme designed for adolescent boys increased their participation through the inclusion of a popular local figure.

28. Men's Reproductive Health Curriculum
Developed by EngenderHealth, this is a 3-part curriculum designed to provide a broad range of health care workers with the skills and sensitivity needed to work with male clients and provide men's reproductive health services. Sections include: Introduction to Men's Reproductive Health Services, Counseling and Communicating with Men, and Management of Men's Reproductive Health Problems. Each section is comprised of a participant's handbook and a trainer's resource book.

Also See:

29. Intervention Studies on Youth Reproductive Health in India: Findings about Men's Involvement - India

30. Nurturing Young Men's Partnerships with Women - India

31. Impact Data - Male Motivation Campaign on Family Planning - Guinea

HIV/AIDS STRATEGIES

32. Behind the Pleasure: Sexual Decision-Making among High-Risk Men in Urban Vietnam
by Tran Duc Hoa, Shari Cohen, Nguyen Quy Nghi, Le Thuy Duong, Nguyen Thi Van, Pham Minh Anh, Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Nguyen Ngoc Anh & Tenley Mogk
This report is based on the premise that male clients of sex workers are a bridge population linking female sex workers to the general population, yet their role in HIV prevention has been overlooked in Vietnam in favour of focusing on prevention programmes for sex workers. A study of the male clients of sex workers and other key informants was conducted in which researchers facilitated 18 meetings (6 each in Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ho Chi Minh City); in all, 324 candidates were interviewed. This report details the findings of that study.

33. Promoting More Gender-equitable Norms and Behaviors Among Young Men as an HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategy
by Julie Pulerwitz, Gary Barker, Márcio Segundo & Marcos Nascimento
This report is the result of research by The Horizons Program and Instituto Promundo to examine the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve young men's attitudes toward gender norms and to reduce HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk in Brazil. According to the report, there is growing evidence that early socialisation that promotes certain gender roles as the norm is linked to risk of HIV and STIs. These norms may include support for men to have multiple partners, or to maintain control over the behaviour of their female partners. Addressing gender norms - the societal messages that dictate what is appropriate or expected behaviour for males and females - is increasingly recognised as an important strategy to prevent the spread of HIV infection. This study compared the impact of different combinations of programme activities on young men's behaviour.

34. Working with Men, Responding to AIDS: Gender, Sexuality and HIV - A Case Study Collection
This is a collection of 13 case studies presenting experiences and lessons from a range of different projects that are working with men to address HIV/AIDS issues. The case studies describe not only HIV/AIDS projects that are working with men, but also other kinds of projects that address other issues and problems relating to men (for example, gender identity, sexuality, violence). The projects detailed are located in Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Bulgaria, India, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa and Zambia.

35. Working with Men for HIV Prevention and Care
The 12 projects covered in this publication were selected because they represented a diverse range of interventions with men. It was believed that an analysis of their strategies and lessons learned would generate common ground on men's needs, associated with HIV/AIDS and their general health, and would provide insights into effective approaches for working with men.

Also See:

36. Men, HIV & AIDS: Regional Conference 2003 Report by Voluntary Service Overseas - Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (VSO-RAISA)

37. Boys' Talk Radio Series - Global

38. Football & AIDS - Zambia

39. Youth Empowerment Skills! (YES!) - Pakistan

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