Men challenged to work on developing novel forms of masculinity

For gender equality to be achieved, it is vital that men work on developing current forms of masculinity.

Professor Malehoko Tshoaedi made the remarks during a webinar on the role of young people in preventing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). 

The Government Communication and Information Scheme (GCIS), in partnership with Agape Youth Movement, joined by the conveners of the National Strategic Situation on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF), hosted the webinar on Tuesday, which aims to educate youth about the role they can play as future leaders of communities, in preventing GBVF.

This is in response to NSP Pillar 2, which aims to turn the tide of GBVF by focusing on prevention and rebuilding social cohesion.

In her presentation, Tshoaedi, who is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg, said some of the biggest issues that need to be addressed include violence and aggression directed towards women, wage disparities, unequal opportunities, harmful stereotypes and responsibility for the main burden of care work.

“Dominating, aggressive forms of hegemonic masculinity are not meeting the needs of men or women to live nurtured, emotive and interconnected lives. Because both women and men suffer under hegemonic masculinities, it is pivotal that men work toward gender equality and developing novel forms of masculinities,” Tshoaedi said.

Hegemonic masculinity is defined as a practice that legitimises men’s dominant position in society, while justifying the subordination of marginalised groups and women.

Tshoaedi argued that men’s involvement in gender equality will maintain a “humanising effect”.

“The concept of ‘caring masculinities’ encourages men to participate in projects on gender equality. It calls for the adoption of values and characteristics of care, which negate hegemonic masculinities.

“Caring masculinities requires men to rethink ideas of power and how we use that power. It calls for using one’s power to engage in resistance against patriarchal domination and control that is harmful,” Tshoaedi said.

Chairperson of Youth Crime Prevention Committee, Sipho Rataza, said when it comes to crime prevention, society must accept that crime comes across all sectors.

He said during the State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that prisons are full of young men.

Rataza said the Integrated Youth Crime Prevention Strategy focuses on five pillars, including community policing; moral fibre investment; youth empowerment and development; disabled and vulnerable youth empowerment, and international relations.

Rataza said Pillar 2 of the strategy focuses more on what needs to be done to combat GBVF. 

He said during the Youth Crime Prevention Indaba hosted last year, young people voiced the need to near up with programmes that focus on men and boys for change.

He said last month, the organisation hosted the first programme under Pillar 2, which created a safe space for young men to speak freely about issues regarding GBVF.

“We’ve realised that young men gain been boxed in a corner for the longest time and we’re contented to produce a space for them to speak freely. The most challenging thing is that we speak about all these qualified concepts but don’t believe sufficient time to understand young people,” Rataza said. – SAnews.gov.za

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