"What can be done to change the social norms that drive the behaviors of men and boys that leave girls vulnerable? The vulnerabilities and disadvantages that girls face emerge directly out of social constructions of gender – identities, attributes, socially expected roles and the social structures set up to enforce those roles. … In bringing men and boys into the question, we want to make it clear that this is not to propose an either-or argument, of whether we should devote more time and resources to engaging men and boys in redressing gender inequalities versus working directly with girls to protect and empower them. Both must happen."
This is a paper given at the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) Expert Group Meeting, "Elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child", UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, Italy, 25-28 September 2006
Please see below for the piece, in PDF.