Transforming Masculinities: A qualitative research summary

‘Transforming Masculinities’ is a faith-based approach to preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and promoting gender equality through addressing harmful concepts of gender. Between 2013 and 2017, Tearfund commissioned a series of research projects to investigate current social norms around gender, particularly concepts of masculinities, as well as attitudes towards and understandings of SGBV, to help Tearfund shape the Transforming Masculinities process. This brief highlights the key themes and issues that arose from the research. It emphasises how religious scriptures, the Bible and the Qur’an, can be used to justify and perpetuate harmful forms of masculinity and reinforce gender inequality.