Gary Barker, PhDInstituto Promundo
www.promundo.org.br
Involving Young Men in Promoting Gender Equality and Combatting
HIV/AIDS
Lessons Learned from Program H
Objectives
Discuss why these issues are important for the workplace
Present lessons learned from a comprehensive and evaluated approach to engaging young men in promoting gender equality and preventing HIV/AIDS
Discuss ideas for taking this approach to the workplace in partnership with ILO
Why are these issues important for the workplace? Men’s violence against
women = lost productivity
HIV/AIDS = lost workers Unmet sexual and
reproductive health needs = higher health care costs
Resistance to women’s equality in the workplace by men = denial of women’s rights
Limited participation as fathers = unfair burden on women
Why focus on young men? 15-24 phase when
forming relationships, having their first children, learning to interact in intimate relationships
Potential for critical thinking and for questioning traditional gender norms
Tapping the potential for constructing alternative ways of being men ....
We know how to promote greater gender equality with young men Offering alternative male peer groups
who support greater gender equality. Helping young men reflect about the
costs of traditional views of manhood. Putting young men in contact with
positive role models who reinforce alternative views about gender.
What is Program H?• An integrated program
to promote gender equality
• Tested in six countries with 271 young men
• Now used in most of Latin America and being adapted for Asia, SSA
• Based on the best practices of 4 NGOs with extensive experience working with men
• Partnerships with WHO, PAHO, UNFPA, USAID, IPPF, Durex Condoms
Program H: 4 Integrated Components1.) Group Workshops to Promote Attitude
Change2.) Lifestyle Social Marketing to Change
Community Norms3.) Engage Health Services and Other
Community Allies to Reach Young Men4.) Evaluate Attitude and Social Norm Change:
The GEM ScalePartners: ECOS, PAPAI, Salud y Genero, IPPF,
PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, Durex Condoms, Horizons/Population Council, JohnSnowBrasil
1. Workshops to Promote AttitudeChange
Sexuality and Reproductive Health
Fatherhood and Caregiving
From Violence to Peaceful Coexistence
Reasons and Emotions Preventing/Living with
HIV/AIDS Video: “Once Upon a
Boy”
Five Manuals
Key Lessons Learned in Group Educational Activities Promote a reflection
about “costs” of traditional/harmful aspects of masculinity
Discuss and “rehearse” positive male attitudes
Take them to where young men are ...community groups, schools, the workplace, the sports field
2. Lifestyle Social Marketing to Promote Changes in Community Norms Identify “more gender-
equitable” young men Design communication
strategies based on youth culture
Combine condom use with a more “gender-equitable” lifestyle
Partnerhship with private sector: Durex Condoms
Hora H – “In the Heat of the Moment” - Campaign
3. Engaging health services and other community allies to reach young men On the DEMAND SIDE: Promote health
awareness among young men and their families
On the SUPPLY SIDE: Work with health practitioners to sensitize them to needs of young men
......engaging the health sector as an ally in promoting gender equality.
4. Evaluation of Attitude and Social Norm Change: The GEM Scale Impact evaluation project (with support from
Horizons/Population Council) Intervention with young men (manuals combined
with lifestyle social marketing) Qualitative and quantitative components Cost-effectiveness analysis Assess process and impact indicators (changes in
behaviors and attitudes) Construction of GEM Scale(Gender Equitable
Attitudes in Men Scale)
Selected GEM Scale Items
% Agree
0 20 40 60 80 100
A man should have the finalword about decisions at home.
I would be outraged if my wifeasked me to use a condom.
A man needs other women,even if things with his wife are
fine.
Adult
Youth
GEM Scale Rating by % Violence Among Youth*
4
10
17
05
101520253035404550
GEMS
High Equitable
Medium Equitable
Low Equitable
*p < 0.001 - Chi-square test
Pe
rce
nt
of
Pa
rtn
er
Vio
len
ce
GEM Scale Rating by % Non-condom Use Among Adults*
5
12
28
05
101520
25303540
4550
GEMS
High Equitable
Medium Equitable
Low Equitable
*p = .08 - Chi-square test
Pe
rce
nt
of
No
n-c
on
do
m U
se
La
st s
ex w
Sec
on
dar
y
Pa
rtn
er
Results and Final Lessons Learned Initial results show positive change in 16 of 24
attitude questions after participation in activities, and increased condom use
Need to intervene at individual and community level Importance of building local partnerships to reinforce
messages (with pharmacies, workplace, schools, NGOs, neighborhood association, health sector)
Engaging young men in all aspects of program development
Next Steps .....
Take it to the workplace.... Test the process in collaboration with ILO
and employer groups Engage employers as active partners in
promoting gender equality with young men