More men doing gender studies

YEARS ago it was unlikely that you would see many men registering for courses in gender studies or even pursuing entire undergraduate degrees in the area.

But times and things have changed, and Dr Leith Dunn, senior lecturer and head of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, said the increase in males has occurred mainly because of a global shift from a focus on women in development to gender and development.

According to Dr Dunn, solutions to development problems mean examining development issues affecting both sexes and finding ways in which these differences affect individuals’ access to resources for their livelihood and well-being, access to power and decision making and controlling their lives.

“There has been increased focus on masculinity and issues affecting males. These include hot debates about ‘male marginalisation’ and those who argue that not all males are marginalised. There is increased concern about lower male participation in education, especially in tertiary education,” she said.

“There is more recognition that males and females learn differently. Then there are higher rates of participation of males in some educational subjects, professions and occupations. Females are concentrated in other fields. There is increased public discussion and analysis of male-female relationships and the causes of interpersonal problems. These public debates also encourage both sexes to pursue gender and development courses at UWI.”

She said changes in traditional gender roles are hotly debated. “These and other debates have encouraged interest in gender and development as a field of study,” Dr Dunn added.

The institute, now in its 20th year, has lobbied to promote gender equality for all.

But where the increase in males is concerned, Dr Dunn said many of the courses are tailored for them or incorporate issues they may face.

“The courses, readings and debates also focus on issues affecting both males and females. We have a course on Men and Masculinities which is very popular,” she said.

Dr Dunn said an interesting observation is that some men are reluctant and unsure when they register for the degree or do gender courses as free electives with another degree. But the majority become more gender-aware and committed to change areas of inequality.

Apart from courses, the unit incorporates the presence of males as much as it can. Some ways include:

1. Celebrating International Men’s Day

“We have celebrated International Men’s Day on November 19 for the last three years. This year was the largest as we partnered with Chancellor Hall (the only all-male hall of residence on campus) and the Gender Society to organise a silent march around the Ring Road which was followed by a public education forum and panel discussion.

2. Forming the Gender Society

According to Dr Dunn, the society was formed two years ago and men are active in the leadership and membership.

3. Internships and outreach activities

“Lessons from participation in academic gender courses, internships with institutions to support career development and skills in gender mainstreaming enable both sexes to understand how gender roles are learned through socialisation in the family, school, church, media and interaction with peers. Students gain experience by doing research for assignments and also participate in the public education and outreach activities that we organise,” Dr Dunn said.

The men have also shown a change in their attitudes to issues of discrimination and how they treat women. Changes include:

1. Being advocates of change

“Males in the BSc degree often come in reluctantly but then become passionate advocates for gender equality and human rights,” Dr Dunn said. She explained that the courses make them more aware of issues of discrimination affecting both males and females and in turn, they are better equipped to understand themselves, their interpersonal relationships, structures of power and inequality, expectations and life in general.

“They are better equipped for leadership and to become agents of change.”

Becoming better gentlemen

According to Dr Dunn, men’s attitudes towards women do change.

“There is more respect for equality. They have a better understanding of the causes and impact of gender-based violence against women. They also are vocal about males as victims of gender-based violence and their inability to speak out or get justice if they report such crimes to the police.”

Supporting other males

“Other males become stronger advocates for the rights of males. For example, fathers having equal rights to their children when there is a breakdown between parents. They recognise forms of discrimination against males in female-dominated occupations such as nursing and cosmetology. They are able to understand areas of discrimination against females because they learn to use tools of gender analysis. They have opportunities to conduct gender analysis of the dancehall and reggae music industries, analyse the content of lyrics from a gender perspective and their impact on development,” Dr Dunn said.

The senior lecturer further explained that gender studies help students to understand the imbalance between males and females in top leadership positions or barriers to promotion in organisations.

She said it also helps to build awareness of the risks associated with females being treated as subordinate to males.

“There is higher risk of poverty if females do not have access to equal wages for work of equal value. There is increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and HIV infection if they do not have power to ensure that each sexual encounter is voluntary and not forced, and if they can negotiate consistent use of a condom without the risk of sexual and physical violence,” Dr Dunn said.

Importantly, the discipline also enables males to speak out about ways in which their rights are violated. For example, being given ‘jackets’ or being labelled ‘gay’ if they refuse sexual aggression from females.