Pathways to Gender-equitable Men

Abstract

Efforts to promote gender equality have recognized the importance of involving men and boys. Yet, in general, we have done little in terms of large-scale research in the Global South to understand how men are responding to the global gender equality agenda. This article presents findings from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), one of the most comprehensive efforts of its kind to gather data on men's attitudes and practices related to gender equality in eight low-and middle-income countries: Brazil, Chile, Mexico, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. It provides a current picture of men's attitudes about gender and gender equality, explores the determinants of equitable attitudes, and investigates the associations between equitable attitudes and relationship behaviors. We find that men report positive but ambivalent attitudes toward gender equality, and that education, income, and more equitable practices in men's childhood homes are associated with men's more equitable attitudes and Downloaded from practices. Finally, we show that in most countries, men's equitable attitudes are also associated with more equitable practices, including more participation in the home and reduced use of violence, as well as higher sexual satisfaction. The findings suggest both the need for program approaches that change attitudes, as well as policy and structural approaches that create lived experiences of gender equality for men. Given how much early childhood experiences influenced men's adult attitudes and practices, the findings also emphasize the need for programs and policies to promote equitable caregiving.

He for she? Variation and exaggeration in men's support for women's empowerment in northern Tanzania

“…As such, an understanding of the correlates of men's support for WE remains elusive. Nevertheless, Levtov et al (2014) demonstrate men who report gender-equitable attitudes to WE also report genderequitable practices, including greater participation in domestic duties, and reduced IPV.…”

“…For example, it has long been recognized that foraging is associated with relatively egalitarian gender norms in contrast to more recently acquired subsistence modes (Draper, 1975), and there is considerable diversity in control over female sexuality across small-scale societies (Scelza, 2013). Furthermore, greater material wealth is anticipated to relax gender-based conflict over resources shared between spouses, thereby increasing male support of WE (Levtov et al, 2014).…”

Improving livelihoods and gender equitable attitudes of street‐connected young people in Eldoret, Kenya: Results from a pilot evidence‐based intervention

“…at baseline. These variables were selected based on findings from studies that looked at factors that shape gender equitable attitudes (Kågesten et al, 2016;Levtov, Barker, Contreras-Urbina, Heilman, & Verma, 2014). Pre-intervention scores were controlled for in the model to adjust for the confounded effects of the pre-intervention score.…”

“So I Won’t Go to Jail”: Year Two of a PROMUNDO-Adapted Program to Eradicate Gender-Based Violence

“…However, results of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey, implemented in eight countries, suggest that early childhood experiences (e.g. witnessing father's involvement in domestic housework) significantly influence men's gender beliefs as adults (Levtov, Barker, Contreras-Urbina, Heilman, & Verma, 2014). This suggests that interventions designed to transform the very beliefs that lead to delinquency, violence, and poor health can and should take place during childhood.…”