Tools and guides

Transforming Masculinities: Training manual

A manual for training Gender Champions and faith leaders to transform perspectives on masculinity and gender

2017 Available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish

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From: Changing social and gender norms toolkit

Evidence-based resources helping communities change harmful gender norms and promote positive masculinities and gender equality.

Transforming Masculinities is Tearfund's evidence-based programme to prevent gender violence and build equality. This manual provides guidance for training Gender Champions using a mix of successful activities to promote gender equality and positive masculinities. Gender Champions are key male and female volunteers within communities who will lead and facilitate change with respect to gender, masculinities and the role of faith – all of which are central to the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This approach is focused on effecting change on two levels:

individual behaviour change, and
social norms change around gender, masculinities and SGBV.

This manual consists of:

an introduction to the training and its key concepts
a detailed activity guide to facilitate and support training
a section on guidelines for Gender Champions to support the work of community dialogues, following the training of facilitators (see Community dialogues: Facilitator's guide).

Activity 19: Jesus – the model for positive masculinities

Learning objectives:

to teach an alternative model for masculinities that can be modelled and promoted in the community dialogues
to explore the characteristics of Jesus as a model to aspire to

Suggested steps:

Ask the group if they would like an energiser, and if they do, start a quick energiser or ask a volunteer from the group to facilitate one.
When everyone is settled in their seats, tell them that you are going to focus on the concept of positive masculinities.
Ask for suggestions from the group. Can they think of any good examples for positive masculinities? Give a few participants the opportunity to share their views.
Now you can introduce the title of the session: ‘Jesus as the model for positive masculinities’.
You can tell them that we are going to look at Jesus’ life as a model for men to aspire to.
State that, in many instances in the New Testament, the ultimate model for a Christian can be found in the life of Jesus. We can see how he interacted with women, those who were oppressed, the needy, those in authority and his family. Scriptures such as Ephesians 5:22–25 allow us to see that Christ is the model for our relationships.

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Manual , English | 18.2 MB | pdf

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First time using the Transforming Masculinities manual?

We strongly recommend that you contact a Tearfund team member before implementing Transforming Masculinities for the first time. For support and guidance in the initial stages, please contact us at: [email protected]

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Transforming Masculinities: Training manual

From: Changing social and gender norms toolkit

Activity 19: Jesus – the model for positive masculinities

Learning objectives:

Suggested steps:

Download resource

Other languages

French

Portuguese

Spanish

Resources in this toolkit

Transforming Masculinities: Quick guide

Transforming Masculinities: Implementation guide

Transforming Masculinities: Maintaining the essential elements