Week 4: Positive masculinities in the workplace

[Busi_Ngcebetsha]

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Week 4 of our discussion. This is our last week. I trust you are enjoying the discussion and are learning a lot from what is being shared.

This week we are discussing positive masculinities in the workplace.

Over the past few weeks we have shared a lot on what positive masculinities is all about, positive masculinities and religious and cultural norms, we also shared how we think positive masculinities can be a solution to ending gender based violence.

This week we need to find practical ways of achieving positive masculinities in the workplace. The following questions will guide the discussion:

1. Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying women? Is it necessary to emphasize that this is a female DJ or female pilot etc?

2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?

3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

Go through the questions above and share your experiences and ideas. Remember to come back and comment on other participants’ contributions. Those who participated meaningfully in all 4 weeks will earn a certificate of participation.

Enjoy the week!

[Denis]

Hello all. I am still enjoying the discussions and also seeing how the stereotypes play out in different communities. My contribution to toady’s questions:

1. The emphasis on females degrades women somehow. Suppose we are on a bus and travelling to a particular place. Why should one put emphasis that the driver or host is a female? Why not simply mention that our host today is so and so rather than mentioning that the host is a lady? Because doing that means that passengers must take care since the driver is a woman. To me, emphasis on women is degrading them. Just mention the name of the person in charge. That way one would have shown respect and trust in that particular area.
2. The broadcasters have a big role to play in transforming masculinities. The first thing is to avoid emphasis on sex. Let us take for instance, a local MP is visiting a village and it is being covered on radio. The broadcasters should avoid mentioning that the MP for the area is a woman. Rather they should just mention the title and name of the person. The listeners themselves will ascertain for themselves whether the person in question is female or male. And they should also avoid belittling women by always associating women with things that are deemed to be meant for the weak e.g you hear someone saying you like complaining/ gossiping like a woman.
3. Positive masculinities can be promoted by giving all personnel equal opportunities. Suppose a TV station wants journalists who could cover a war environment or a violent demonstration. The notion that male journalists must be the ones covering such scenes is discriminatory. Female journalists must be allowed to go to war zones and become war correspondents. By sending males only, the message being communicated is like " hey, we are sending men to cover these because men are strong and they can withstand whatever will happen there whereas women are weak and they will be easily targeted and probably die on duty there". What is wrong with having a lady carrying a heavy camera on the field and a male journalist reporting? Food for thought…

[Gideon]

1. Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying?
   This is a double-edged sword question. It is degrading if the context of the description (emphasis) does not seek to advance or promote female DJ or pilot careers. This is to say that the basis of the emphasis should be to promote and encourage females to take up skills that are perceived as being reserved for males.
   Then, it is dignifying if the objective of the emphasis is to put a shine on the DJ or pilot and encourage other females into the field.

2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?
   Production of radio content that deals with women’s issues should be taken up by men equally. Mostly, women are only involved in the production and broadcast of content that they relate to.

3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

Fair gender portrayal in the media should be incorporated into the professional and ethical codes of conduct, similar to respect for accuracy, fairness, and honesty.
Conscious and strategic efforts should be made to portray women and men in non-stereotypical situations.
Women should be producers and contributors of media content and not solely as ‘consumers’.

[AlfredJamesMungwa]

Q1 . Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying?
I think the emphasis It is degrading if the context of the description does not promote female on same careers. The basis should be to promote and encourage females folks to take up skills challenge that perceived as being reserved for males like in media the role as Editor’s, Station Manager’s etc.

Q2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?
In the production or roles in radio, should be equally be balanced with all male and female not only in some content which relate to gender.

Q3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

In media the playing field must be leveled qual between male and female folks by letting women to take up major roles.
Then, there is much in need of capacity building so that media personal so be alert with current situation line line with Gender equality.
Lastly, i think, some organization bringing up capacity building on gender equality there goes or focus are very baise which disadvantage male folk of which, with the same issue gender equality, women folks because big headed at home and even workplaces.
I Submit

[Tanza]

Q1.is emhasis on females degrading or dignifying
A. in my opinion,the emphasis is on females is to dignifying them showing that women are also capable of doing things in a smart way as men,so as to inspire other females,know that where there is a will there is a way.“this is a female DJ”,will quash ideas that competitive DJs are only men.

Q2.What role do radio parteners need to play in transforming masculinities?

A.They need to reinforce in their programme without showing that men are superior to women.they are to address the masculinity characteristic and behaviours ,havi g ghe same value as faminine,though each gender has diffrent traits,but for same purpose of having a good place to live.when masculinity is transformed positively in the media it will help news consumers,especially youngs,growing in the echo of equality.

Q3.How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry

A.to portray men as loving,caring gentlemen etc contrary to what they are refered now and then as cruel,drunkards,ukind etc
The good language we use in our media rooms about men will encourage them to revisit their inner souls and correct their mistakes about mistreating women.

[Eraston]

I love it especially on mp not to mention that she is woman.
But we can only say she’s a woman when we are encouraging women to take these offices

[Eraston]

Q1 female should be involved in any field of any office not only men.
There are females who can do better than males as Djz , there are good females drivers : I saw one lady who is a truck driver and she is doing better.
When we involve females in many field it will encourage others to take these carriers
Q2 by creating a space on tv or radios for women to discuss about gender .

The media house should create listening groups were discussing on human right can take place and it can best platform.

Q3 women should take some positions eg manager, director, news editor.
There should be sharing of offices between men and women.
On employing, women should not be sidelined .
Some companies they only employ men saying that women are too difficulty especially those who are married ,who are breastfeeding, and those who stay far the company

[mathewos]

The role of media,especially local broadcasting medias would take great part in empowering positive masculinity in work place,in society,and in everything.
The partners,government concerned bodies,religious leaders,society famous persons would take their role in gender issues.
Medias; broadcasting news ,programs,interview good experiences,scaling up better trends.
As FBC journalist,if you take responsibility,go agreement with our medias(FBC 99.9) we are happy to broadcast gender related issues that we were working farm radio international for the last five years.
Generally,be ready to broadcast the issues.
Thanks,Mathewos Feleke FBC journalist.
0916877417
0923368283.

[thayobanda9]

Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying?
I think the emphasis It is degrading if the context of the description does not promote female on same careers. The basis should be to promote and encourage females folks to take up skills challenge that perceived as being reserved for males like in media the role as Editor’s, Station Manager’s etc.

What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?
In the production or roles in radio, should be equally be balanced with all male and female not only in some content which relate to gender.

How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

In media the playing field must be leveled qual between male and female folks by letting women to take up major roles.
Then, there is much in need of capacity building so that media personal so be alert with current situation line line with Gender equality.
Lastly, i think, some organization bringing up capacity building on gender equality there goes or focus are very baise which disadvantage male folk of which, with the same issue gender equality women folks because big headed at home and even workplaces.
THANX HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!

[Donjosh]

My take on Week Three:

1. Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying women? Is it necessary to emphasize that this is a female DJ or female pilot etc?

In my humble view, the issues on emphasis on females is not degrading neither is dignifying women, reasons are that, the female gender has been on the negative stereotype, receiving all sorts of backlashes from every angle of the society. It is only in recent times the emphasis of human rights and dignity begins to wade into the corridors where advocates of Women’s Rights are beaming searchlights and drawing the public’s attention into such imbalances on the women and girls.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be heard off for too much emphasis about; a female DJ, Mechanic, Pilot, Engineer, Doctor, Pastor etc.
There is a capability in everyone’s lifetime and when given the space and equal opportunities women thrive in diverse fields of endeavours.

The African norms seems to have entrenched a feeling of men’s superiority versus female inferiority, hence they are treated as such, whereby they are denied sundry benefits equal to their male counterparts. Until such is adequately disabused in all ramifications, the issues will still be seen as too much emphasis about and dignifying of women.

2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?

True effectiveness of transforming masculinities projects and programmes can only be achieved through inclusive development programming. This builds your ability to include the needs of a diverse range of actors in your programmes and aim for development that benefits all towards changing the narratives in redirecting the attention of players towards positivity.

Transforming masculinities in practice:
On the ground, work with boys and men on transformative masculinities
continues to be done across a range of sectors. This reflects our
understanding that for efforts to end violence against women and girls to be
truly effective, they must involve multiple sectors that relate to the political,
economic and social factors fuelling such violence and maintaining gender
inequalities in the society.

The media partners must deploy mechanism in different sectors in which work is being done
with men to promote more transformative masculinities.
For example, not leaving anything else to chance. There must be proactive engagements with;

Parenting and care work. This strategy is to bring men’s active involvement with caregiving experience who has a positive effect on the gender
socialization of children into your programming. There is evidence that positive male parental involvement increases the
likelihood that sons will grow up to be more gender-equitable and involved fathers themselves, and that
daughters will have more flexible views about gender equality and a greater sense of equality within
relationships. Working with men to be more active in caring roles with their children can also be a key
strategy in ending men’s violence against women: research has found that men who are engaged in
caring roles with their children are less likely to commit violence against their partners. Given the link
between witnessing one’s father’s use of violence and one’s own use of violence, engaging fathers in
modeling nonviolent behaviours is crucial to ending the cycle of violence.
There should be initiatives of positive fatherhood campaigns in
motivating and training men to be more active parents and gender-equitable partners, as well as
running campaigns on men’s roles in maternal and child health and non-violent raising of children
in order to change community norms around men and caregiving. Come to think of this, most African cultures sees it as a taboo for fathers presence in the delivery room or advocating for exclusive breastfeeding or supports the holistic
development of children and promotes increased participation of fathers in childcare, pregnancy and
birth.

Another area to deploy is post-conflict settings; Given the links between conflict, militarism and patriarchal masculinities, post-conflict settings have become important opportunities to
work with young and adult men on transformative masculinities. The issues of
gender-based violence, with a number of implications for transformative masculinities work when we bring advocates into active programming. Series of programs in war-affected communities needs to be done in order to increase men’s involvement in
preventing gender-based violence and to promote gender equality
and healthy relationships between men and women.

Other interventions on media programming should gear towards addressing transformative
masculinities, and should have focused on integrating into the society peace-building processes. This should target community-based program, primarily targeting men or women and based on group
therapeutic and psycho-educational tools. By building skills in conflict resolution at the family level, these Peace Groups Initiative should address the effects of trauma on men, and helped them develop positive
coping strategies as a way to improve their relationships with their intimate partners.

Programs on violence against women and girls: Violence against girls and women
and other forms of gender-based violence are central to the workings of patriarchal masculinities.
Finding effective ways to respond to and prevent such violence must therefore be a central component
of work on positive masculinities. This must include program working towards changing the attitudes and behaviours that
fuel this violence. Group education approaches, often supported by community-wide sensitisation
campaigns, have been shown to be effective in this regard. Sometimes programs should focus on boys and
men specifically, which engages young and adult men in personal reflection
and group discussion on the harms of patriarchal masculinities, their roles in ending these harms
and the skills and relationships they need to embrace more transformative masculinities. Other programs
should also target both women and men in efforts to change personal behaviours and social norms that
support gender-based violence. In Africa, the use of
community-based approach is key in promoting critical reflection on gender and equitable relationships. This has been
found to have a very positive impact on reducing violence and violence-supportive attitudes.
Work is also needed at the institutional level, to ensure that all perpetrators of violence against
women and girls, who are almost always men, are held fully accountable. For this reason, program should
focus on male-dominated work space e.g police, justice system, media newsroom etc to improve their response to violence against
girls and women. These conversations will help to support police officers, the overwhelming majority of whom are
male, in reflecting on their own gender conditioning and experiences of violence. There is need to emphasize on skills building in communication, anger/stress management as well as self-
awareness in order to achieve the overall goals of transforming masculinities.

There is need to take a holistic look at other transformative measures through effective programming highlighting women’s economic empowerment, where the dominant economic space hitherto shanked against women. Therefore, the need to open up conversations on how to amplify new opportunities for women while bringing men on women’s advocacy to talk about such opportunities.

There are social justice movements who are readily available to discuss issues that reflects on the transformative masculinities.

Other measures to address transformative masculinities are through: working in solidarity with women-led work on violence against women and girls, do no harm, engage with men’s interests in gender change, hold men and male-dominated institutions accountable, address men’s vulnerabilities, recognise sexual diversity and sexual rights and employ positive messages and multiple strategies.

3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

Media needs to employ positive messages and multiple strategies framing work with men as being part of the solution
to gender-based violence is important.
This involves openly acknowledging with men that they are often
grouped together and blamed for the actions of some without the recognition of their diverse beliefs
and behaviours. It is important to create ‘safe’ spaces for men where they can learn more about issues
of masculinity and violence, ask questions without being judged or feeling ignorant, where they can
participate without feeling threatened by expressing their concern for ‘women’s issues’, and can reflect
on their own attitudes about women and violence.

Additional strategies include:

Using the mass media to reinforce non-violent norms and foster attitudes among men
and the public at large that violence against women is not acceptable, that ‘real men’
do not exert violence, and women are equal.

Working at the community level with various educational, outreach and mobilization
strategies to influence social norms and create an enabling environment for men and
boys to reject traditional stereotypes of manhood and use of violence.

Promoting change at the society-wide and community levels that can provide a social
context that supports and reinforces positive change in individuals.

[Busi_Ngcebetsha]

Hello everyone

Great contributions so and I notice that it is mainly men that have responded to the questions. It would be nice if we could hear from women themselves too on how they feel about the emphasis.

Let me post a contribution from one of our resource people since he is not on this platform. I will also be sharing some of the discussion going on without repeating what has been shared here already.

SK Sonke Gender Justice: Morning all, the most important for us is know what do we want to achieve at the end of the day. We want men, women, girls and boys to live in peace. No one should be judged or treated based on his/ her sexual identity. We should be equal. The reason for us to fight gender inequality is because the system is in favor of men the most hence most men are in position of power in all aspects. Men are presented in all angles e.g. they are dominating in politics, household, workplace, transport industry and so on. If you count the population of each country you will find that women are more than men but can’t be seen in the working force. You only see women in hospitals when they carry their babies to hospital/ clinic for health reasons or in communities during the day. We have no choice but to challenge the system so that they can have an opportunities to explore expertise. The previous system put the women into an awkward position and we need to change that. Indeed the men also need the support, counselling and coaching because they constructed this behaviour from the community and it not easy to unlearn it or rather not easy to be transformed. We have no choice but to fight this pandemic even if we have to do anything to stop it. We cannot allow men to do anything they suit for them against women. I concur with other speakers when they share their bad experiences on man abused by women. I have no doubt that can happen to men hence I agree that men should be looked at too. However women suffer the most and they are beaten by system. Let’s work together to fight the system by shifting policies in our countries as well advocating, lobby, mobilized for better system which will favour both men, women, girls and boys. Let’s draw our own objectives instead of the objectives of your organization or country objectives. Gender Equality need a person who practical do it. Let’s learn from HIV struggling. HIV people disclosed their status in public and the community and government got a sense of it hence they supported the struggling. We need to leave gender equality, by taking your partner to your workplace environment or being a company each and share the presentation to the public. As gender activist, we must show the public that we are serious about this. Let’s not doubt the struggling in between in the journey. They reason we stood up is an outcry of our mothers, sisters, partners and our daughters. I lean a lot to this group and I wish these platforms can be created across as to be able to engage each other. Allutta Continua

Ngwenya Denis: I have realised something from another angle in terms of women representation in different positions. In my country for example, in 2013 we adopted a new constitution with a clause to promote women in parliament. Under that clause, a total of 60 women would go to parliament through a process of proportional representation. The number of seats that are contested in the house of assembly stand at 210. If you add those 60 the number gets to 270. We went to the polls in 2013 and when the results came out, only 11% of women had managed to be voted in as MPs.

For me the idea of 60 women in parliament via the proportional representation method was good in the beginning because women were surely under represented. This clause was meant to be used in 2013 & 2018 polls. After that it was going to be expunged. However this system did not help women in terms of addressing social issues affecting them and the community at large. If you ask any honest political commentator in Zimbabwe, he / she will tell you that this clause is being abused to the core because right now the women who are chosen to go to parliament under proportional representation are those with close ties to the ruling elites. The very same men whom we are saying are not giving women a fair deal. In the end you realise that the people who go to parliament are clueless and don’t move even a single motion. What they do is to sit there and continue to enjoy the government perks when they are not doing anything meaningful. Right now they have agreed to keep that clause beyond 2023 elections. As we try to address the issues of inequality, we should try and avoid the traps like ours. It will not make sense to have a number of people who go to parliament on nepotism and cronyism just to fulfil a clause in the constitution yet they don’t address even a single issue affecting when women in Africa have a plethora of challenges hindering their progress and delaying economic and social progress!

Arbogast Mutayoba Tanzania: To be frank GBV is a phenomenon not only for women hobut also men,and we ought not to disqualify males complaints,however few they are.

The bad side of the story about men is that when they report the incidents of violence against them(those who dared so,as some kept quiet as nothing has happened) they are judged from history that men are brutal,giving woman a win on the case! once I witnessed a woman inside their house attacking her husband with a stick,while crying and calling out neighbours for help that she was being beaten!!

Anyway I would like to see that we are resonding to this week topic,so ghat at the end we know the conclusion and way out out of GBV

Patel: True…everytime when they talk about GBV they only think it’s women …yes i understand that they are few men facing it but they are also facing the violence in their homes and keep quiet.We really have to come with a solution to this as a team ,if possible can we establish then an emergency response team to try help the voice less

Martha Caracal Tanzania: Sorry for those face this problem, but we should be open about this so we can help our society

We have to come out no matter what, but we have to listen to our hearts on what to share and what we should not share so we can be comfortable

Busi N: Morning everyone

I am following the discussion with interest. Last week we dealt with understanding GBV and people shared their understanding. Through what came out is the fact that GBV affects everyone but women are the ones that normally report it and they are the ones experiencing it more than men. We are not saying men are not subjected to gender based violence but most of them keep quiet or do nothing for fear of being labeled weak. We know this is as a result of our cultural norms which portray men as the stronger sex. Men also need to come out and share their stories. I am eagerly waiting for @⁨Citizen®Ayertey⁩ to share his own story. I believe it will encourage others even in this group. Can you imagine the difference it wouls make if media would broadcast such stories as normal? It would end this ‘ridicule’ we are talking about. When other men hear stories of abuse from other men on a daily basis they will eventually see nothing wrong with reporting it. I agree sometimes even the police do not take men who report such cases seriously because it is very rare. In our country, in each police station we have a section dedicated to just GBV because it is a concern but the question is, how many men use that service? This reminds me of when I was working for another NGO, we worked with radio stations and at some point after the 16 days of activism again violence of women and children we decided to go to this small town, they have a community radio station and they have been broadcasting programs encouraging women to come out and report GBV and we randomly were talking to women in the streets wanting to know if they have heard or listened to any of the programs. There was this particular man who apparently was watching us and listening to ask asking these women, he finally gathered courage and came to talk to us and asked why is everything about women, what about them that feel abused in their own homes and he started sharing his story. That was really something to consider and as we know when we talk about gender equality we are not just talking about women. We are looking at all sexes receiving equal treatment as human beings.

This week questions are focusing on women because as we have noted and noticed, people have contributed that women are looked at as the weaker vessels, there are even jobs that are only considered for men. Imagine a ‘female mechanic’ - how many men would patronise her services without doubting competency? I am emphasizing female in this case neither to dignify nor degrade but to show the mechanic is a woman.

Let me stop here for now.

+233 24 310 7###: My story is quite different as I met a Lady who had not stepped into the classroom before and felt so insecure about our relationship because of our educational difference.

She would insult me.and use abusive and very offensive words at me at her shop in the midst of her customers and even her family members.

She is a self made, hardworking woman who thought she had all she needed and wasn’t ready to learn anything new apart from what she knew.

She didn’t understand my job and thought anytime I went out, I went another woman…

She would always be like, “but you work in an office and you should either be in the office or here with me”.

I tried everything including finding a private tutor for her but she got more offended anytime the issue of education comes in.

This was actually giving me serious emotional troubles that I had to battle with for about 3years before I said to myself that it was enough after I lost my job, took to some form of Alcoholism. I wasnt making enough money too and sometimes had to depend on her for support. She could not give any reason as to why she was doing that and would always blame it on one friend I had even before I met here saying that my friend looked like a womanizer. It may sound funny but it was traumatizing me emotionally because I wasn’t cheating in any form.

I couldn’t tell anyone because I didn’t know how to say it. Sometimes people in her hood would ask me “why are you stack with this mad woman”?

I liked her because she was very hardworking but finally I got help from another female friend who encouraged me to walk away because that relationship would kill me if I continued. Friends only spoke about it after I mastered courage to leave and find myself another job. The situation became worse after I lost my job at my first radio station.

That is my story.

Ngwenya Denis: Hmmmm sounds tough. Levels my brother. You bring in another exciting perspective in the African narrative. MEN should WORK hard and PROVIDE for women and to see a man being supported financially by a woman is an ABOMINATION. In the European/ Western context, it does not matter who has the financial muscle as long as there is food on the table and bills are paid. But in African culture, society has constructed it in our minds that men should marry women of lesser value in terms of education, finances etc so that he will be able to control her. That is why in most of Africa, ladies who are well educated and financial secure are single coz no suitors come close to them. If you are a man and try to make a move on such a lady you will hear comments like “hey, what do you think you are doing? Do you think you will control here with all that education and money?” And the man freaks out…

+254 759 732###: This happen,you will see nowadays women says “, what is the need for getting married if I have good work which gives me money to manage myself and also if I can provide for the one or more children I have ,” as a result you will find large number of women living single.This quote entered inside me and I also started telling myself if I will be financially stable I will not get married,but now am asking God to forgive me for this and I had to put in mind ,if God brings a man in my life whether I will be financially stable or not I will get married.

Busi N: Thank you for sharing and big up to you for not staying because of material gain as you said at some point you depended on her support. That is one problem on its own that needs to be addressed where women are more affording than their partners such that they become abusive. I want to disagree with @⁨Ngwenya Denis⁩ on the fact that men should work hard to provide for women. If you say it like that, you are taking us back to the stereotypes. Being partners in a relationship or marriage should just be that, you both work together for survival otherwise that is why there is a joke about a cerrain tribe on our side that when the ladies leave their villages and go to Johannesburg for instance, once they get a boyfriend, they call home and say they now have jobs or are employed and will be sending money

[MAYBIN]

1. Depending on how someone says that this is a female DJ or pilot, I feel there is nothing wrong. However, am alive to the fact that a DJ or pilot will remain so whether male are female hence to some extent it’s not neccessarily to mention the gender. I had a conservation with colleagues at the place of work over this matter and they expressed mixed feelings. Some females, expressed less care of being called femake dj or pilot whilst on the other hand others felt it’s not neccessarily because just by name one can tell what gender one is. In conclusion, as a journalist if am writing a positive story perhaps I will find it necessary to stress a point by adding female dj or pilot.
   2.Media sets the agenda, hence the role of radio partners is to highlight and challenges cultural practices and behaviours that do not help women to progress. Radio stations should be platforms for gender equality conversations.
2. We can promote positive masculinities in the media by helping institutions develop and implement gender policies. There’s also need to train media managers on gender related issues

[Eraston]

I love it this is awesome

[Angie]

This is very true Denis…
And this is being mentioned you would find they are even smiling say “well let it be known to you that our pilot is a woman”
Other would even think they are complimenting by saying " can you believe that our manager is a woman" so what if the manager is a woman, they are also human beings and can perform and work just like the male fork.

Like here in Zambia female camera person’s payslip still comes as camera man… women are regarded as not able to take up the work of camera person. The other part is not village head person only men were head persons. And if anything was to happen they would even they men to help preside over matters just because the head person is a woman.

[Pmphaka]

Hello colleagues,

Here is my take on this week’s questions:

1. Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying women? Is it necessary to emphasise that this is a female DJ or female pilot etc?

It depends on the circumstances. In general, I would say that if there would be no need to identify the subject by their gender, for instance, a male driver, a male nurse, a male hair dresser, etc, then there would also be no need to identify female professionals by their gender. However, there are other circumstances when the gender is identified as a complement to the subject. These complements normally come in when the profession is generally monopolised by a certain gender. For instance, nursing has for a long time been known to be a profession for females. Likewise, DJ and pilot professions have, for a long time, been dominated by men. So, when gender is identified under those circumstances, it is a compliment; it is dignifying. One can also make such emphasis to motivate and encourage young girls that they can become pilots and engineers, and DJs; in short, they can also do what men do because other females have already done so. So, it depends on the circumstances. The other side would be when the speaker is downgrading the job done by the female. For example, ‘the plane crashed, it had a female pilot.’

2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?

Radio partners need to produce programmes that highlight positive masculinities to transform them. Radio stations need to feature women who have reached great heights in their careers after receiving support from male counterparts in their families, communities, and organisations. Also, feature men who have demonstrated confidence in women by ‘allowing/supporting/facilitating’ them to do different tasks customarily reserved for men. Through such programmes, radio stations can introduce positive masculinities to their listeners and help them understand their benefits. Further, radio stations can organise phone-ins to answer questions from their listeners and clarify what positive masculinities is and can do as opposed to negative masculinities.

3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?

In two ways: the way we live our daily lives as radio stations, and the way we design our radio programmes . It starts with us. The manner we distribute roles and responsibilities within the industry should demonstrate positive masculinities in action. The way we plan and actualise our programming should also demonstrate the same pattern of being there to ‘support’ and ‘promote’ girls and women.

[Pmphaka]

Hello,

I agree with the statement: as a journalist if am writing a positive story perhaps I will find it necessary to stress a point by adding female dj or pilot. This is important because you are highlighting and emphasizing (without using words) that these are, traditionally, male-dominated professions but thankfully, women are performing them just as well, or even better.
We must also admit that others might also mention gender in a negative story to drive home the point that females are incapable. So, we can conclude that we can not conclude that it is right or wrong to mention the gender of the professional - because it depends on whether the story is positive or negative. I would add that for any neutral story, there would be no need to mention the gender of the professional involved.
It’s a great debate, isn’t it?

[Eraston]

Continuation of my comment on how media can help on gender equality.
Media should engage NGOs who are related to human right to teach on t tvs and radios the important of gender equality without defending any sex.
My concern:
Women should be understand that when they get paid, they should also help to buy groceries in homes. so there is need to have such program on air .
Girls always looking to be supported by their boyfriends even if the girl has a resources.
On child support, some women take there husband to court accusing him not supporting his children meanwhile husband is very poor trying his best. And at court the man will be found with case saying you’re man .
Some women took there husband to court for divorce so that they can share there properties which they have reaving a husband helpless.
Now toucherism will not end if this problem is not solved . Most of men will end up in suicide (killing themselves) .
Say no to GBV. Preach about it in market, churches, homes, work places, on busses

[Mamsul]

1. Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying women? Is it necessary to emphasize that this is a female DJ or female pilot etc?

Because of stereotypical belief and cultural norms, here in Sierra Leone, we see a society wherein women are degraded not necessarily because they are not up to task but because society have classified them by limiting their powers. It’s very sad because women have potentials to grow up ti higher levels.

2. What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?

Radio stations can encourage male broadcasters to be champions or ambassadors in spreading positive messages about women. Male colleagues should see female colleagues as work mate and accept the fact that they are up to the task just as the males are. If the male staff practice and know the values of gender equality right from the production then their programs will be very positive and Gender balance and this will inturn encourage positive programs about women. In most cases, radio partners select women for gender programs. For me men too can do it and this will help in the radio station by transforming positive masculinity

3. How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?
   By teaching healthy behaviors to male colleagues so that the can be champions on advocating for women. It’s very clear that society has a significant role on how we think. So if men know that healthy behaviors is what is good then they will have no choice but to adhere.

[Jipbanda]

My take on this week’s topic is that.
1.
Referring to an expertisee or profession attaching a gender term to it is in most cases degrading but may sound different according to circumstances.

On normal circumstances women with certain expertisee or profession should be referred according to their role. For example a radio presenter should not be referred to as a female presenter. This is so because referring to her may sound in a way as something that does not usually happen on normal.

Society has to make sure that reference should be made in a way as not to separate or set some differences between men.

This has been a major challenge in positive masculinity advocacy. It questions on the motive for referring an expertisee or profession with a gender attached. You don’t hear people say, “this shop is owned by a male.” Rather you hear, “The director is a female.” Such statement come with a sense of a difference between the two.

In other circumstances, especially where modelling and inspiration are in the best interest, it works to refer to a role attaching a gender.

Deliberate efforts targeting men must be put in place. Such efforts should concentrate on advocacy for positive masculinity. Should be on the forefront spearheading the ideologies of positive masculinity. Women should not be left out but it might be in the best interest to put men that they can inspire fellow men to societal changes.

Women also should be encouraged to support and or promote fellow women.

Young children, young alduts and youths should be taught the concepts of positive masculinity that they grow up having good knowledge and practice of it.

Media should strive to strike a balance in it’s workforce. Females should be encouraged to date what challenges them and also what they most desire to do.

Males in the fraternity must strive to help women to be themselves and ensure an equitable society.