My name is Mariama Sowe, a Media trainer from Freetown Sierra Leone. Its a pleasure to Once again be part of discussions on Gender. For me positive masculinity means when men accept to embrace women irrespective the Gender differences. They see women in the good light for instance not have the mentality that women are inferior and men are superior. It is when society at an early age teach boys on how to treat girls fairly because the issues start in these early days. Society needs to work harder to create positive masculinity so that men will always work towards putting women in good light and not looking down on them.
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1.My name is Maybin Augustine Katungulu a broadcast journalist working at YGFM RADIO in CHOMA, Zambia. Currently am working as Assistant manager/News Editor/producer.
2. My understanding of positive masculinity is when people deliberately blind themselves by way of not looking at themselves as men or women instead focus on what they can contribute towards the development of society. In this case both men and women use their emotional and physical strength to achieve one goal, which is development. I also feel, positive masculinity is when people use their emotional and physical strength to challenge traditional norms and practices which undermine the progress of both men and women in society
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Hi guys,
My name is Blessing Uwechia.
I work with Farm Radio International in Plateau State, Nigeria.
my understanding of positive masculinity is that men can be positive, responsible and consider their partners as a complement. They are supportive of their female counterpart, whether at home, workplace or in society. Rather than see them as competitors or less humans, they see them as complements and treat them as such from decision making at home, work and community. Positive masculinity look to men as advocates and champions of this human behavior towards their counterparts. If this is achieved, the world will be a better place.
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Your right Patrick. Practical positive Masculinity is every one’s responsibility, I can imagine what a beautiful world it can be if we choose to rise and grow a generation of Men that use Thier energies and status to improve, support the status of women and girls in communities. N achieving this starts with u and I doing what we can in our personal spaces.
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Hello @MAYBIN @Blessing1 @Bintispark @Mamsul @Mailaprid @Angie @Kebby @Joseph90 @Dominic01 @Donjosh @Liche @thayobanda9
Welcome all, we are delighted to have you on board. I like the fact that someone said she knew nothing about positive masculinity but as the discussion started, she decided to read some articles and get a better understanding of what it is all about. This is one of the reason we have these discussions, they are educational and will also help our fellow broadcasters educate their listeners so that we may all be in a better and healthier environment.
The contributions are interesting, please also make sure you comment on other people’s posts. Let me quote a few points from the contributions:
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My names are Chipo Nachibbatu from vision community Radio Macha in zambia
Positive masculinitylies is when men use their physical and emotional strength to champion health behaviors and communities.
Positive musculninity is the anthesis of toxic masculinity.
The focus of positive musculninity is to help generation of men learn health behaviors and then develop more robust communities.
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Hello @nachibbatuchipo85
Welcome to the platform. We are glad you have joined us. I trust we will all learn from each other’s contributions.
Enjoy
The pick by the facilitator, Busi from all the participants is very interesting though we had different definitions of positive masculinity but at the end of the day am seeing ourselves talking about one thing which is creating a society where both men and women have equal opportunities. This also calls for affirmative measures to ensure noone is disadvantaged or their rights are infringed upon.
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Am gwangwazu Eraston from voice of kalomo radio station in ZAMBIA southern province
Positive masculinity is were men understand that can not afford Alon without a women
Men should treat women as equal
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Thanks for this discussion because I started to learn a different thought about it from different people who are looking for Gender equality
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Sure, this behavior is one of primitive lifestyle which hindering the active Gender Equity to the society.
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Absolutely Betty the journey starts now
Each society has its own way of behavior. Some cultures also contribute in the way males should and must behave. Like us the Luvale, Men are taught on how to behave in society and with the opposite sex. They can not do certain things just because they are male and the opposite sex is not expected to say or do anything to them just because they are male. So it will be vital to engage traditional leaders.
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hello everyone Haggai Sinkolongo, from Zambia, Mufulira District ( District Agriculture Information Officer in Ministry of Agriculture) for me my understanding about positive masculinities It means open-mindedness and an attempt not to limit oneself based on gender expectations.”
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you are very right culture is the major contributor to this
Dear friends and colleagues! My name is Christian Chibuzo Maduka. I am the Networking Officer for Farm Radio International in Nigeria. I am a Farm Radio Broadcast-Journalist and Communications for Development Specialist. “Real men respect women”. This is an old saying that originated from Africa and that is my definition of positive masculinity. Real men who understand that gender equity and social inclusion is the new normal operate under the scope of positive masculinity. From the history of African tribes and communities, it has always been matrilineal in nature. Kindreds and communities were established in matrilineal structures. “Umu” in Igbo language of Nigeria means children. So we have communities bearing the names of their matriarchs. Umuofia, Umuaku, etc. That’s how communities are named. The narrative that brought negative masculinity is alien to Africa. African men from of old have positive masculinity where they allow women space in the affairs of life. Foreign religions and civilization brought negative masculinity where men began to marginalize women. In a typical Igbo community in Nigeria, Umuada - the daughters of the land and Inyomdi - the married women of the land have equal respect and regard in the decision making process of any community. Is the system still in place or had it changed? That’s why we are having this
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It must also be understood that not all our cultural practices and norms are bad or inhuman. Some of the practices help us to be identified otherwise as an African any person without cultural root is lost. For instance in my culture were regard all women as mothers and there’s a call to give them respect they deserve. However , the same women regarded as mothers are made to til the land which they cannot own legally as land rights remain in the hands of men. Now these are some of the things we need to begin to challenge
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Salut (Hello). I’m David Chisanga Smith from Zambia, the news editor at Lima Radio. For me, positive masculinity means being comfortable in your own skin as a man; shading off the superiority complex or the stereotypes of manhood; and treating women as equal partners in development. It’s about seeing himself as a human being; a person with feelings and emotions in as much as he’s logical; a person who needs help in as much as he helps others; a person who needs building in as much as he builds others - a real man. Positive masculinity is altogether being the positive change you wanna see in society. Merci beaucoup!
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Hello,my name is Francine working with radio Maria chipata Zambia.
In my understanding,positive masculinity is when men use their physical and strength to impact good moral behaviors in society. Here,we see men who are appreciated in communities because of their behaviors not where by they are feared or want to be recognized for wrong reason.
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I am well convinced that positive masculinity is the key to sustainable global development. If men begin to imbibe the tenets of positive masculinity their socially and culturally constructed norms that have notched that negative sense of marginalization of women in their brain will begin to diminish and the women will begin to feel safe and secure in the space which hitherto have been occupied by men only. Positive masculinity goes beyond mere tokenism of allocating certain percentage of the space to women just to patronize the women, it will get to the point of actual inclusion and equity.
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