1998_2_conceptualizing



	*Sexual Health Exchange, 1998 - no. 2* Conceptualizing masculinity through a gender-based approach Vladimir Norori Muñoz and Javier Muñoz López For many years, NGOs in Nicaragua have carried out gender-based community development work. Most have focused on women and youth. However, male staff of a few NGOs became aware that work with men was needed as well. They believed that men need to consider how masculine identities are socially constructed and what actions are needed to contribute to more equal gender relations. The first action they took was to establish a forum called Group of Men Against Violence in July 1993. Then, following a meeting of about 50 men in 1994, they subsequently promoted systematic courses on masculinity and outreach work in poor communities. Two NGOs active in the above-mentioned activities are CISAS and CANTERA. Their head offices are in the capital city, Managua, but they also support work in other areas of the country. Two main themes run throughout their work: promotion of the rights and duties of both men and women, and identification of individual and collective actions to promote changes in the traditional roles, responsibilities, etc. assigned to men and women, for example, sexual roles and participation in reproductive health issues. The basic premise of these NGOs' work with men is that this can and should contribute to women's efforts to gain equality in both their private and public lives. Work with men is not considered, however, to be simply an altruistic means of "helping" women. They believe that when men assume responsibility in transforming gender relations they, too, will benefit from more just and better relationships. Reflections on sexuality Participants in a 1996 CANTERA workshop on Sexuality and Masculinity offered the following reflections concerning their experience of sexuality: "Sexual relations are not the only part of sexuality, they are one of the parts of sexuality. Unfortunately, we all believe that sexuality only consists of sexual relations; it is basically associated with the genitals." "We lack knowledge of our own bodies....They say, and it has been proved, that the biggest sexual organ we have is the skin and we don't take advantage of this. We only penetrate and do not caress. Then after ejaculating we sleep. We believe that our sexual relations are only the physical act of penetration....So I say that we do not fully enjoy it." "The way we perceive and practise our sexuality is often possessive...and we often reflect power relations during the sexual act. Often we feel sure about completing the sexual act but we have not discovered the affectionate and emotional side of our sexuality; this is very destructive." "Sexuality is often associated with guilt, sin, taboos, fears, anxiety...But it even exists outside couple relationships because you can be sexual even if you are alone." "The way we are educated - with a lack of true information but with prejudice, taboos and lies about sexuality - distorts us and reduces our capacity to be really human. It dehumanizes us completely and is responsible for much of the sexual abuse that occurs daily. That is why we need the right to develop a healthy sexuality, without prejudice, so that we can become more sensitive and less machista as men." Group of Men Against Violence In the early 1990s, CISAS and another NGO, Puntos de Encuentros ("Meeting Point") were carrying out community work on domestic violence. Two of their male staff felt that they needed to take action personally in this area as well; they decided to establish a new "alternative space" for men in 1993. The first name chosen was "Men's Group for Non-violence" but this was soon changed to "Group of Men Against Violence" (GMAV) as this was felt to express a more active stance. GMAV first focused on self-education. An opportunity to expand its actions arose in 1995 when 2000 farmers gathered in Managua to protest governmental measures concerning property rights. GMAV members circulated among the men camped out in front of the university, asking them to participate in an impromptu workshop on violence. Expecting a turnout of about 20 men, they were confronted with more than 60 aspiring participants and ended up offering three workshops. The farmers initiated their own movement, the Network of Rural Promoters, which has since then encouraged men to participate in recreational activities with their children and the development of family vegetable gardens. In Colombia, the Ministry of Health and Pan-American Health Organization have asked men to consider that, when we speak of equality between men and women, there should also be shared responsibility for preventing HIV infection GMAV members now facilitate workshops and support activities for men in communities in different parts of the country; methodological and material support has been offered by CISAS and CANTERA. Participants are encouraged to develop their own definitions of concepts in a way that is meaningful to them personally. For example, one farmer explained that machismo is like a eucalyptus tree; it has far-reaching roots that suck up all the water and stunt the growth of the surrounding plants (thus providing an analogy to how machismo encourages superiority and dominance of men). Young men and adolescents are expressing particular interest in GMAV's work. Currently, seven youth groups are receiving ongoing support, including one that primarily comprises gang members from a poor Managua neighbourhood. These young men are suggesting new topics to be addressed, such as the influence of alcohol and drugs on sexual behaviour. Courses and workshops on masculinity CANTERA, which develops training courses for NGO staff and community members, offered its first annual course on Masculinity and Popular Education in 1995. The course comprises three workshops with men (masculine identities; gender, power and violence; and "unlearning machismo") and a final workshop with men and women that focuses on creating just relationships. Follow-up workshops have been offered as well on masculinity and sexuality and masculinity and communication (focusing on interpersonal communication skills in gender-based relationships). The workshops always begin with an inventory of the participants' expectations; some examples: to learn about masculinity and the sexual rights of men and women to debate the factors that give rise to different sexual options such as homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality to help construct a future without violence and a sexuality free of prejudice to know more about men's power in relation to society to improve relationships within one's family. The men's workshops then explore topics in depth through participatory methods: making drawings of life histories, games, debates, discussions following personal testimonies, and group analysis of relevant laws and factors in daily life that contribute to concepts of masculinity and femininity (e.g., types of toys that boys and girls receive). The mixed-sex workshops include relaxation exercises, a drama performance, games and exercises related to discrimination and small-group discussions. National artistic competitions (not only limited to workshop participants) are also held for which participants may submit songs, stories, poems, essays and drawings. CISAS, which works with children, adolescents, women and men, draws elements for its workshops for community members from the CANTERA courses, expanding them to include more specific topics such as violation of children's rights and responsible paternity. During a meeting held in August 1997, for example, the 45 participants concluded that men can practise the following measures to improve paternal responsibility: recognize that couples are responsible for family planning and that men are responsible for avoiding unwanted pregnancies improve intra-family communication by becoming more communicative and less impulsive in taking immediate action develop an open and comprehensive relationship with children in which fathers encourage good behaviour, good habits and sex education in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies become aware of errors and be willing to correct them in future. CISAS recently also expanded its work towards the governmental sector, offering a training-of-trainers course to staff of the National Army's Health Department. Outreach work in the community Building on the sensitization and mobilization engendered by its workshops, CISAS is now supporting men's groups in various communities. They usually meet once weekly for about four hours. The men prepare discussion topics for reflection; those who have participated in the workshops often replicate the methodologies used there to stimulate a participatory approach. Enquiries reveal that the men appreciate the group work; they particularly find it helpful to realize that other men share their own concerns and problems. In their view, participation in the groups has contributed to better relationships with their partners, improved communication within the family and better mental health. As the work is quite recent, however, many are not yet confident enough to convince other men of the benefits to be gained from changing gender relationships. As a key element of health promotion is creating a supportive environment, CISAS therefore periodically facilitates meetings among men from different communities so that they can exchange information, experiences and ideas. In late 1997, two national level meetings were organized, including one with women's groups. Future prospects GMAV recently acquired its own office space and is seeking some outside funding. They hope that this will enable them to respond to more requests for support and training, including a demand from police departments for training on gender sensitivity. Some 250 men have attended CANTERA's courses on masculinity so far, including participants from Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. To assess the impact of the course, a study was carried out in late 1997. It included two questionnaires, one for men who had taken part in workshops and one for women (partners, wives, mothers, sisters, co-workers), four one-day encounters with men from the workshops and consultative meetings with women. Preliminary results from the study showed that: 63% of the men feel their conceptions of themselves as men had changed significantly; 64% of the women shared that opinion 67% of the men considered themselves significantly less violent as a result of the gender training; 48% of the women said they were significantly less violent and 21% said the men were a little less violent 70% of the women saw significant changes in the men's sexual responsibility; 57% and 15% of the men considered themselves significantly and a little more responsible, respectively. Other changes observed by the men - greater solidarity with women, gays and lesbians, more responsibility as fathers and partners, participation in domestic chores, and improved relationships at work and in the community - were observed by the women as well. Asked about the role of the workshops in their personal transformation, the men mentioned: the fact that the workshops take men's own reality and life experiences as a starting point for reflection and analysis the creation of new opportunities to carry out such reflection the possibility of proposing change in a collective manner, with consensus being reached on many issues. With input from CISAS and the GMAV, CANTERA is also developing a training manual for work with men (El Significado de Ser Hombre, The Significance of Being a Man). It will be made available to NGOs and community groups from June 1998 onwards. Vladimir Norori Muñoz, CISAS, Apartado Postal 3267, Managua, Nicaragua; Tel: 505-266-1662; Fax: 505-222-4098; e-mail: cisas@ibw.com.ni; and Javier Muñoz López, CANTERA, de Plaza el Sol 2 c al Sur, 1 c arriba, Managua, Nicaragua; Tel: 505-277-5329; Fax: 278-0103; e-mail: cantera@nicarao.org.ni Note: Some of CISAS' work is supported by the donors Memisa, Bilance and Brot für die Welt.
		exchange@kit.nl © Royal Tropical Institute