adminManicaland Correspondent
Government ministries and civic organisations have called for increased male involvement in programming aimed at addressing gender disparities to complement efforts in empowering and capacitating women.
Speaking at a first quarter gender co-ordination meeting in Mutare yesterday, provincial development officer Mr Emillo Chihono said there was need to strengthen the inclusion of men in programming designed to address gender inequity, inequality and bias.
“We cannot empower women and not involve men because society as a whole is composed of both men and women,” he said.
He said stakeholders should view men as partners and not adversaries. “We should realise that after empowering women they have to go back and face men,” said Mr Chihono.
He said by including men, resistance to the empowerment and capacitation of women was reduced. “Male involvement in programming has been important in the reduction of gender based violence, but at times campaigns targeting young women have been unfruitful as women have been unable to attend trainings, workshops and campaigns as they have failed to obtain permission from their husbands,” Mr Chihono said.
18-Plus programme co-coordinator Mrs Precious Babbage said patriarchy undermined stakeholders’ efforts, as men were reluctant to endorse women empowerment issues due to cultural reasons.
She stressed on the need for education and training of men in gender issues to sensitise them on the implications of gender equality, gender inequity, as well as gender bias.
“Men require ongoing training and education on the problems being faced by women on a day- to-day basis as well as the implications of male and cultural subjugation of women at household, local and national levels,” she said.
Mrs Babbage said inspite of stakeholder efforts, the majority of men had deliberately ignored efforts to empower women.
She also emphasised the need to adopt an alternative approach which focuses on males to try and address the root of the problem.
Online Reporter