Efforts to tackle gender-based
violence against women In India have hitherto concentrated on empowering women
to assert themselves. But this one-sided approach insulates men from the
process of transformation and does not offer a way out of the patriarchal mould.
Men’s violence and aggressiveness are often due to these cultural modes, as images
of masculinity are linked to the notion that men with ‘power’ are ‘real men’.
There is a tacit acceptance of
gender violence, even from women, in all spheres of Indian society. Two years
ago, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) highlighted the finding that 55%
of women did not consider it wrong to be beat by the men in their homes, and
51% of men felt that they had a right to beat the women.
There have been few sustained
efforts at changing attitudes related to masculinity. Dominant forms of
masculinity in men must be challenged at a young age. There is a woeful dearth
of safe platforms for men to talk about problems that give rise to violent
behavior, including those relating to sexuality. Gender-positive male role
models are also needed.
A project launched by MAVA
(Men against Violence and Abuse) provides safe, non-threatening platforms to
young men so they can open up, communicate, share their fears, thoughts,
dilemmas and concerns, and come into contact with new ideas about men and
masculinity. While collectively addressing gender issues, the project promotes alternative
models of masculinity that are gender-equitable.
‘Opening up’ in men is much more complex than in
women. Men often do not have any experience, confidence, or even vocabulary to
describe their innermost feelings. By involving a pool of experienced men who are
willing to share personal insights with the young men in MAVA’s project, this
process of ‘opening up’ is encouraged. This includes a yearly magazine
featuring firsthand experiences of men communicating their anxieties,
vulnerabilities and other issues related to masculinity. Nevertheless, it takes
guts to renounce patriarchal privileges and step down from a dominant position.
In many schools, gender
education has been introduced as a value
that needs to be instilled. However, there is lack of effective teacher
training on the subject and a lack of child-friendly methods. Moreover,
politicians have been stalling efforts to provide integrated sexuality
education in schools.
Men are seen as part of the
problem, but unless they are seen as part of the solution, there will be no
significant change in the status of women. Men, too, need to be ‘liberated’
from the shackles of patriarchy. It calls for a paradigm shift in viewing the
‘women’s issue’ as a ‘gender issue’ by all concerned.
Source: infochangeindia
