This short brief describes how rigid gender norms wreak havoc on all members of society and presents evidence indicating that the outcomes are better for everyone in societies with more flexible and adaptable gender norms. Seeing men as co-beneficiaries and stakeholders in the fight for gender and social equality, the document present a series of recommendations to engage men and boys as part of gender-transformative strategies.
Download the brief in PDF here.
Based on a literature review and interviews with key stakeholders, this technical brief synthesizes current research into how masculinities and disabilities intersect in conflict and post-conflict settings. It outlines evidenced-based strategies for meaningful engagement with men and boys and sheds light on how to equip them with the skills they need to play a role in peaceful societies that are both gender- and disability-inclusive.
Download the technical brief here.
The APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men were developed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to assist psychologists and others in providing effective and culturally sensitive care to boys and men across diverse backgrounds. The guidelines were released in 2018.
There is widespread recognition that preventing violence against women and girls requires working with men and boys as allies, partners and activists. The Regional Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women and UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) have developed a set of principles and best practices that allow for that while still ensuring accountability to Pacific women and girls.
Men in politics as agents of gender equitable change examines why men in politics decide to support gender equality, how they explain and frame their allyship, and how their actions are perceived by women politicians, activists and students. Drawing on evidence from three countries: Colombia, Liberia and Malaysia, this research contributes in-depth, qualitative and cross-country analysis of how gender norms are influencing decisions of men politicians to support gender equality in the Global South.
This technical brief considers and recommends promising strategies to improve health outcomes among boys and men by promoting social connection and support. It describes what influences relationship building and friendships among boys and men and how the quality and longevity of these relationships can influence their health behaviours and outcomes throughout their lives.
Male engagement in family planning/reproductive health refers to the involvement of men and boys—where appropriate—as FP method users, supportive partners, and agents of change in order to actively promote gender equality and transform inequitable or harmful gender norms, including, but not limited to, harmful forms of masculinity across the life stages. Ultimately, this approach aims to improve FP/RH outcomes for men and women in cooperative ways that protect and encourage women’s agency.
This report examines violence prevention education with boys and young men. Exploring how best to work with boys and young men in classrooms and other face-to-face settings, it identifies six standards for best practice in this work.
The report focuses on educational strategies aimed at the primary prevention of domestic and/or sexual violence, focused on boys and young men, and provided face-to-face in schools and other settings.
Unpacking the Man Box makes five vital contributions to our knowledge of men’s conformity to masculine norms and the impacts of this conformity.
The first two contributions help us to map men’s patterns of conformity and non-conformity to traditional masculine norms.
Gender-inequitable norms of masculinity are widely recognised to sustain the disempowerment of women and girls, underpinning inequalities in gender-based access to economic opportunities and decision-making power, as well as harmful practices such as gender-based violence. Dominant forms of masculinity also undermine boys and men’s wellbeing, with particular harm to their physical and psychosocial health.
