Transforming Masculinities: A qualitative research summary

‘Transforming Masculinities' is a faith-based approach to preventing sexual and genderbased violence (SGBV) and promoting gender equality through addressing harmful concepts of gender. Tearfund's Transforming Masculinities work started in 2013. Between 2013 and 2017, Tearfund commissioned a series of research projects in Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Nigeria and Rwanda, as interventions were being rolled out in these countries. The research investigated 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. 

Harmful gender norms 

Prevailing social norms that maintain men's superiority over women, and which are accepted and embraced by both men and women, were highlighted as a cause of concern in all regions. In daily and domestic life, most participants held the view that men and women are not equal in society: the man is regarded as the head of the household culturally and religiously.

‘In any partnership or relationship there must be someone who has the final say, even in a democratic system. This is the role for men. The man must negotiate with the wife first, but if they don't agree the man must make the decision and the wife must accept it.' (Liberia)

Men typically had the ascribed status of provider and protector while women's ascribed status was that of caregiver who looks after the family and all the household chores. In Burundi, 94 per cent of women agreed that their primary role is to look after their families and take care of their households. In Nigeria, however, norms are evolving as women are beginning to earn and provide for their families. 

Gendered practices 

Another underlying theme in the research was SGBV. Participants described marriage as becoming ‘one flesh' in which ‘one flesh cannot harm its body'. However, some participants felt that a man should be able to use physical violence as a form of punishment when a woman is disobedient. Both men and women agreed that a woman should tolerate violence for the sake of her family.

‘…the man must then slap her to show her the way.' (Liberia) 

Structural factors 

Role of church and faith communities 

These harmful gender norms and practices are predominantly informed by religion and culture and are accepted with little consideration of the possibility of any change to the status quo. 

The role of faith communities in all contexts was limited to promoting healthy traditional relationships. This largely meant asking men not to abuse their partners, urging men to act responsibly and provide for their families, and asking women to respect and submit to their husbands. Some participants felt that faith leaders should counsel perpetrators and pray for survivors of SGBV in addition to teaching based on scriptures, because their duty is to keep families together.

The following are quotes from research participants, expressing their understanding of their faiths' teaching of gender equality.

[display]‘Women were created from the man's ribs and as a result the man is the head of the family. Man and wife must be taught how to respect this order of things. Anything else brings confusion.' (Liberia)

‘In Islam, the Qur'an tells women that they should be submissive to their husbands so they can go to Paradise.' (CAR)

In all contexts, the role of faith communities in responding to gender norms, SGBV and the promotion of gender equality was noted as very limited. This limitation includes the lack of adequate and up-to-date theological and theoretical knowledge beyond their religious practices and doctrines, as well as the requisite knowledge of practices and strategies in the gender equality/women's rights sector.

‘But one reason why the church is often slow in responding to these situations is its acute lack of sufficient information and knowledge for meaningful action. This, too, is partly because we are not undertaking the necessary research that will bring such issues to the forefront. As a result, we do not know the depth of this problem, nor are we prepared to act on behalf of those it hurts.' (Rev Nuwoe James Kiamu, PHD President of the United Liberia Inland Church)