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Understand the diversity of boys‟ and men‟s experiences and tailor initiatives
appropriately
Programmes should recognize that:
� Not all men are equal and differences in age, educational attainment,
experiences of racism, homophobia, low socioeconomic status and others need
to be addressed.
� Many men experience power and powerlessness at the same time (i.e., a man
may feel powerful in his home in relationship to his wife, but may feel oppressed
at work).
How can programmes account for the diversity of boys‟ and men‟s experiences?
� Meet men at the stage of life they are at, engaging them at the level of their lived
experience;
� Think in terms of relations of power and powerlessness, where both men and
women may experience vulnerability. For instance, men may not feel powerful
under all circumstances, some men may feel powerless in comparison to men of
a different race or social economic status;
� Do not treat „maleness‟ as a problem in and of itself; and
� Tailor a programme to the needs of a particular group (e.g. fathers) or conduct
programmes in an inclusive manner so that no group feels excluded by using
images and examples that appeal to a broad range of men regardless of race,
occupation or socioeconomic status.
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Ensure sufficient exposure
Programmes promoting changes in gender norms and behaviours require long-term
investment to ensure multiple group sessions or sustained community activities and
campaigns.
Promote change at the society-wide and community levels, beyond just individual
change
As suggested by the ecological model for addressing violence, targeting boys‟ and
men‟s individual behaviour alone will produce limited results. It is important that
interventions target the context within which they live by addressing individuals,
relationships, social institutions, gatekeepers, and community leaders, among others.
Men and Boys Knowledge Module January 2012 16