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.
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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!!!
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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.
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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 
- 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. - 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
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I love it 
this is awesome
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.
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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.
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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?
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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 
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- 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.
- 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
- 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.
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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.
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Yes very true, we should be ambassadors. A worry is on females in the media fraternity don’t undertake the most challenging situations or roles. Most of them are presenters and reporters (basic)
At least women should do more as men will be encouraged to support them
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Hello everyone
Today is officially the last day of our discussion. Make sure you are up to date with your contributions. I am sharing the discussion going on on WhatsApp:
This photo was shared in relation to this week topic
And the question was whether to label her a female bricklayer or not.
Taiwo Oduola: The domain used to once dominated & known for men. And only very few women are venturing. So tagging her is not uncommon until it is many more women are involved.
Taiwo Oduola: Occassionally when I watched female wrestling, it is still not energetic and power filled like that of men. The gap is still there, take it or leave it. Women are really trying but by nature men are more endowed with energetic activities than women.
Jipson Banda: Yes very true.
Growing up as a young boy, we had this girl who would always join us whenever we played football.
At first all the boys exercised caution and played with discipline.
We couldn’t let one of us mark her with harshness.
When we played, we couldn’t let one of us hurt her, she was our Messi, yes, she dribbled a lot and could push or shield us. And when she did, we would just retire from marking her.
Then, we realized she didn’t like our approach. She wanted us to exercise our play on her as normal. Harsh marking, dribble et cetera.
When we exercised normal play on her, she felt okay and happy. This girl plays football to now.
The point is their physical make up should not be a reason to sideline them from special activities
Taiwo Oduola: Yes you are rght. However unconsciously the caution is still there. Men folks are just getting use to the development of Female mechanic, Bricklayer, Palm tree harvester, Trailer driver etc. And few women are still involved. Hence, the segregation.
+234 905 ###: Yeah, that’s what we are talking about. We know it’s a male dominated area but for gender equality and trying to right the wrongs, it’s not proper to call her a female bricklayer as it were.
Gideon Sarkodie Osei Adars Fm: Technically, it’s wrong to say so. But, in some circumstances when the quality of the output is high, a mention of it could be good to promote the thinking that, women bricklayers are as good as their men counterparts.
Jipson Banda: Yes, the developments are recent but we are in this scenario because for long, we have denied women the opportunity to be themselves in terms of opportunities.
The story of this came about in 2000. Our mums made remarks like “she won’t get married” “this girl is stubborn” “she likes hanging out with men, she shall be a prostitute”. Such were the remarks.
Whenever we were playing another team, they would mock her or demand that she doesn’t play for us.
Which was painful to us because she was our best player.
Our efforts to instil the concept of positive masculinity has been delayed for quite a very long period
Kebby Sianjame Zambia: In media, some ladies are the ones that are calling themselves Female DJ or Female pilots.
In other areas, like here in Zambia, women are free to do any job without other people saying anything. But when you want to describe some like a tall man, a slim man or the dark in complexion is where someone will tell you that this house was built by a tall light coloured man and the wall fence was built by a woman. So that in itself is not degrading in any way.
So women should take up the challenge in order to raise the number so that the community will understand and get used to it.
+234 905 ####: They too are caught up in the stereotype of enforcing male dominance in the profession.
Until all learn to speak the right words, address the issues as it were before it is fully entrench in the consciousness of recipients, the advocators and the society at large.
Ngwenya Denis: To me she’s just a bricklayer. Trying to qualify her as a female bricklayer is segregative. It can only be used in statistics. Say for example when information about workers at a particular place is being collected. That is when you could say “we have 5 females and 3 males” who are bricklayers in this company
+260 97 ####: I sometimes even wonder why this trend is so strong such that even in hospitals, someone will differenciate how he/she was treated between a male a female nurse. I really feel this has to be worked on in sensitizing where as people should learn to appreciate the works done by whoever regardless who on did this and that.
+260 97 #####: We really have a lot to do especially us in media as it is the fastest way of disserminating information to the masses.
Kebby Sianjame Zambia: I think this is what we need to fight right away. Why do people call the males as male nurse, that will mean that they will call the other as female nurse. We need to call them as nurses and take them as people who studied medicine.
As far as I remember in Zambia, we used to see nursing as for ladies but for now it is all male and female and we need to stop to refer them according to their gender.
Busi N: I actually thought of this as well taking into consideration that it is not only females that experience this. In SA as well nursing was considered to be a female career. Men would be straight up doctors. As we see more and more males becoming nurses, people started emphasizing that these are male nurses. Nursing with different ranks, one rank being a nursing sister, it was quite strange for men to be referred to as sisters because of the rank. I believe they change that to nurse in charge or something like that.
Kebby Sianjame Zambia: Yes, here in Zambia we have heard of the Sister in Charge, and wonder how that position will be called with the increase in the males taking up the position. May be it will be a Brother in Charge.
Somed Shahadu: Is the emphasis on females dignifying or degrading? Is it necessary to say ‘female dj, female pilot. Etc.
The emphasis on women and girls certainly has its own problems, but degrading women is not one of them. Not only does the emphasis help to break the myths and misconceptions about gender roles; emphasising helps to break the glass ceiling or the social barriers that limit women’s active participation and growth in male-dominated professions. The emphasis serves as a reference point for young girls who may need inspiration or encouragement to pursue their ambitions; it teaches such girls that it is possible for a woman to succeed and make a mark in a male-dominated profession.
Ngwenya Denis: Some of these titles need to be changed to neutral like in the past people used say “Chairman” because it was always males in charge of chairing meetings and nowadays it has changed to “Chairperson” which is a fair term
Somed Shahadu: @+233 24 #### what about the derogatory labeling? Sometimes the stereotypes and tagging is discouraging for some women for sure. Moreover some women don’t like too much attention about their work
Arbogast Mutayoba Tanzania: what? that some women don’t like too much attention about their work?i think everybody should be proud of h/his work unless it is a filthy one ie prostitution.
So,a section of women who don’t be recognised by their duties,can’t bar us from tagging successful women,as a move to inspire others that women are capable of doing things like men
+260 97 #####: Unfortunately, there are women today who feel pity for themselves and they literally refuse taking some assignments such as political rallies or any event which are violence related. I want to believe society is slowly relieving that women are partners in development hence there is need for them to stand up and be counted. As a head of department, I have personally experienced a situation where female colleagues would plead with me not to be sent to a certain assignment on the basis of their gender. In a case I forced them to do the assignment I was deemed a devil or uncaring man or not a gentleman.
+233 20 #####: It is necessary to encourage women to play leading roles at workplaces and in media spaces. Unfortunately just as in the politics women are largely cheerleaders. Slowly the trend is changing. But may I know why some men who want to promote women in the media tend to overdo it. How can host of a programme not simply introduce a woman for who she is just as other men. Some hosts could sometimes be too petty describing what she is wearing and how beautiful she is looking. That is quite irrelevant.
+233 20 #####: But if a woman excels as a chief cocoa farmer, it is a feat worth mentioning. It may spur others on to become cocoa farmers.
+260 97 ####: Kkkkkk, I hear you. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not we cant take away a woman in a woman or a man in a man. I think what we must be promoting is equal opportunities between men and women.
+260 96 ####: It’s hard to have the female personnel possibly have the same privileges, with women susceptible to go on maternity leave and taking the days off work for mothers day, it’s not fair to have the males and females get the same remuneration as an example,
+260 97 ####: Women should also given high position like men
Ruth Banda Radio Explorer: It is another way of bringing women down if people hear how she has been described the end result will be like she’s a prostitute can’t lead people or may don’t have the courage to stand before the masses especially in politics
Joseph Pasme: Unfortunately women themselves they don’t support each other. Which will make them difficult to realize their potential
+260 97 ####: Yes I agree with you
Some women they don’t want to be challenged by fellow women that’s why mostly if there are more women at a company there will be no development
+260 96 ####: I concur with you, I wonder why we women don’t actually support each other, i wish we could put our hands together,work together and realize our potential but of course we also need full support from men
+233 20 ####: I believe if men can support women at workplaces, then the major problem impeding working women at workplaces would be solved. Not all men bosses appreciate the multiple roles play outside the work environment. Men should be considerate when some issues crop up.
+254 759#####: You can change behavior of someone but one’s character is them to decide ,thus women have to decide which is better,.I hate it more when a woman wants to run for leadership positions then the first to discourage are fellow women.
Ruth Banda Radio Explorer: For real women are jealous of their fellow friend if she’s doing better than them
+260 97 ####: To my understanding most of time jealous is one which killing everything
Another one last as well.
Most of women are employed when they fall in love with owner of a company (media station) and these same people who are promoted to higher position. Now if there are five women at a same station , one senior position and in love with boss will have jealous to her fellow women thinking that a boss may fall in love with another one
Ngwenya Denis: I have seen this several times in my country. One would expect women to back their own and make their voices be heard but what happens usually it’s the opposite of that. However in workplaces let’s not try and qualify them with things like “female news anchor or camera person”… she’s just a news anchor. No need to be too specific about her…
Patel : Very true this…thus why sometimes they don’t support each other…a good example of it especially in my country ,they are few women in political leadership than men because they have jealous on each other that if one goes up there she will benefit more thus why they don’t vote for each other…the truth is women are jealous of each other
Somed Shahadu: I agree with you @Kumah Drah that woman must be encouraged at work places: how can we encourage?
+255 ####: You are absolutely right this challenge is very big again women we love each other very hypocritical even in the basics we do not share this is all a spirit of jealousy has ruled.
Ruth Banda Radio Explorer: That’s the reason why men have dominated, have taken the lead, their is need for behavioral change and more advocacy on the same
Joseph Pasme: This is true and very serious. Number of women get big positions not out their hard working or knowledge in the name of gender equality well in the actual sense skirt was removed by boss man
Somed Shahadu: Instead of looking at it as 5 women jealous each other to date their bosses, we have to question the agency or freewill of women who date their bosses. In most cases it is the male bosses who initiate these relationships; some women get punished for rejecting such advances from their bosses at work places. Even though it looks like the women willingly fall for the boss, some times they are left with no other option
+255 754 ###: What is needed is to educate the women’s community more that our fellow men have made great strides because theirs is one to ensure things move forward and in order for things not to stagnate or the office, the company must not collapse, unity must come and true love must exist.
Patel : Yess we might say male are the one who have got all leadership why not women . Thus because of jealous on one another ,in order for women to get some leadership role at the top ,they should first support each other and know that the perain they are voting for or nominating is to be their voice.Besides that women will always cry saying that they are not heard and their cry is not being heard its because no one will represent them and talk for them,the men will always plan based on what satisfy them they won’t have time to consider fpr women because they don’t know the women needs and wants
Patel : Yeah i agree we have to find solution to that .Maybe having women workshops on our stations try to educate women to look at the bigger picture to see that not only one person is benefiting but every women will benefit from supporting each other .Also allow them to put their contributions on air why they think leads them to have jealous on each other
Busi N: I am following the discussion and I agree with @Kumah Drah that some statements are generalized. This does not mean it is not happening though. I would like to also add that if some women lift their skirts to get jobs or certain positions, even some men pay to get in, so some pay in cash while others pay in kind. It is a practice that needs to be exposed and dealt with as the most deserving candidates might miss the chance.
It is good to point out the issues but we also need to find solutions. Hence we have the questions of what can media houses do to promote positive masculinities to end this GBV.
Somed Shahadu: First of all, it is important for the media to promote the discussion of men as social beings. Most often, men and their gender roles are not given the same attention given to discussing women in gender. There are some good radio programming on gender equality as a general topic, but the discussion centers a lot on women and girls as well as the socio-economic challenges they face as a subordinated group. It is about time we started to discuss men as men and their gender roles; the same way we discuss women in gender equality programs.
This is a good way to highlight the inequalities and how it affects the lives of both men and women differently.
+234 905####: Absolutely, for a balance when such medium or programming are put in place, a whole lot new dimension will be seen about how men too faring in this estate of our discussion.
Ngwenya Denis: Good morning all. This is another angle which needs to be thoroughly looked into. I have realised for a long time now that ladies also like to use the dating advantage to access many things in life particularly if the person in charge is a man. I have several incidents where I had gone for the job interview and the moment I arrived in those places I there was no shortage of 3 or 4 ladies wanting to know who the boss is and then going behind and making some arrangements with the boss. What I think should be taught to our girls is that they should work hard and be independent and stop using sex as a bait to get whatever they want in life. It’s still very common in Africa to find girls/ women who will tell you that they don’t date guys without cars. You ask yourself why such a person doesn’t work hard and buy her own car? Such behaviour does not help to eradicate things that we are talking about here. Actually it aides them to flourish. In the end men feel like women are playthings because certain women give them the leeway to think and act that way by presenting themselves as desperate beings who cannot do anything for themselves.
Let me digress a bit, but still on the behaviour of some ladies. Has anyone realised that in most music videos women will appear almost naked but men will be dressed up properly? What does that mean? What message is being communicated to the public since we are talking about ways that media can play to address inbalances
+260 97 ####: Uh 
that issue is big for especially on music
Especially here in zambia mamamama you find that there is a function with high profile people and lady is dancing bed style , you wonder why and people clapping heeee heeee heeee that come to an end sure
+255 754 ####: All of this is happening because some colonial men still do not want to listen to women’s ideas no matter how good the idea is, they just focus on what will be presented and they are right because they are men and heads, to get rid of this situation must be thought each one should be given priority and then the best filter should be worked on then things will go well.
+255 754 ####: What you are talking about here is absolutely true now why this is happening due to some families abandoning children and leaving them in a difficult situation that is later found in that generation because who will teach them the best moral principles to follow that is why there is so much work to educate this group. and self-seeking, but also men have been a major source of sexual persuasion they say in order to get a job you have to have a romantic friendship now a man with no position will just simplify he thinks life on the street is difficult he decides to mix without him knowing if he loses, media it is important that they continue to raise their voices in order to put an end to such inhumane practices in our society.
+254 759 ###: Nowadays in the country I am if you don’t know someone in certain departments or have money to pay for it,you would not get job you trained for in college or university even if you passed well unless it is God’s time, you graduate no job your hustle and ,hustle and will you wasted time in going to school
+254 759 ###: In the case of women appearing almost naked and men well dressed up,I think is kind of thinking if they don’t do so they think the video will not have likes ,there will be less people interested in viewing it,and also they like coping each other.
On ladies using dating to access some thing it happen ,some will also get married to aquire material thing that’s why you find nowadays mostly young couples don’t lust for long in marriage because of that,
There are few ladies trying to dependent on themselves
Busi N: This is interesting.
I am not sure if it is still about gender equality or abuse when women try to sell themselves to get jobs. This is more like deciding to be a prostitute for survival.
The media industry is probably to blame here. I am sure we have seen how they use ‘semi naked women’ in adverts and billboards. Even in “lounges” or “clubs” the owners will use pictures of women who are almost naked to lure patrons. There is a saying that “sex sells”. This is where they use sexualized adverts. This is something that needs to be addressed as it somehow present women as objects. Yes sometimes it will not just be women but half naked mascular men. These adverts are probably what encourages women to use what they ‘have got’ or think men need from them to survive. It still doesnt make it right. I guess here we can say media should stop using 'women as objects’in their advertising. You will even find out that whatever is being advertised does not necessary go with the picture being used.
Ngwenya Denis: Well articulated Busi. Women are just uses as objects in music videos and adverts. It gives some men the idea that are “things that can be bought, owned and used” anyhow. Yesterday I was reading an old magazine with a story of a polygamous man here in Zimbabwe who has 15 wives and 128 children. At the time of the interview he was saying he is not done marrying yet. His intention was to marry as many as he could. When he was asked how he manages such a big family, his partying shot was: " A man who is controlled by a woman will not enter heaven"…
+234 905 ####: I quite agree with you as i just want to add that, some have seen prostitution as a means of livelihood. Others are either forced or lured into it. The Showbiz business, sports, music, cover magazines and ads etc uses the almost naked posts of women to sell. There is a complex mind tailoring of these superstars or icons that seems to hinge on their rights to life and behaviours, so trying to discourage them might hit a rock based on their human rights.
These people are making a lot of money as models, so talking about their near nudity against the backdrop of their financial inflow might be tough.
The issues of moralities is gradually taking a break from the public space.
In my view, the fight for GBV should be on a stage by stage basis in order to drive home the message of change and using those who will turn a new leaf as change agents. together,work together and realize our potential but of course we also need full support from men
Hello everyone.
I would like to contribute this week discussion as following.
First for my view I don’t see if saying this is female dj, female pilot, female commander is degrading them rather it’s about encouraging them,that they can fit anywhere,they can reach their dreams,they can become what they want to be, because previously, they were discouraged, people didn’t believe in them, that’s why when we see someone now doing things that the society believed couldn’t be done by women we must tell others in order to encourage others,.
Example here in Tanzania we’re now having a female president for the first time in the history of this country.
It has changed the mindset of many girls, now many of them believe one day they’ll be like Samia Suluhu Hassan.
So saying president Samia is the first woman to become a president in Tanzania is not degrading them but we encourage others to become.
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About what role do radio partners need to play.
First is to provide more opportunities to women,
Not only providing opportunity but also, to encourage them, mentoring,and coaching them ndo archive their dreams.
We as media we’re supposed to increase the speed of spreading awareness to the society, since once the society is aware it could be easier to educate and implement policies, and plans planned.
Lastly, we’re supposed to discourage any sign of violence, reporting violence cases and following them up until end.
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Allow me to add my voice on week 4’s topic tho alot have already been said.
In the first place,yes the emphasis on women is degrading and not dignifying because I finds it disturbing to emphasis that a female has done this or that or has achieved this or that etc.this may make someone to think because it’s a female,it’s rare or unheard of to achieve or make it in life,hence I feel the emphasis is not necessary because one has to know that even the female folk can achieve what men can or in other words in general can do what men can do.
Secondly, radio partners need to play a huge role in bringing up the content that is rich in sensitizing the people on the importance of promoting masculinities.meaning the content of the radio programs should be well balanced,featuring both men and women and there is also need to be wary of the words the radio personel uses in their programing,in other words there must be fair language and portrayals.
Positive masculinity can be promoted in the media by producing gender balanced content. For example,news departments must commit to improving gender balance by actively seeking and featuring women sources and experts as it is rare for women to feature in such.This will create a balance of reporting by both men and women while steering clear of gender stereotypes as well as ideas.I feel that this will surely promote positive masculinity in the media.
In all this ,the ultimate goal should be to treat women and men equal
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Hello everyone, am enjoying the discussion and I have learnt alot so far.
My submissions for week 4 are as follows:
- Is emphasis on females degrading or dignifying women? Is it necessary to emphasize that this is a female DJ or female pilot etc?
ANS: I think it is degrading to emphasize that this is a female DJ or Pilot.This is because either a female or male are capable of becoming a DJ or Pilot as long as they have the relevant education, skills and experience.
When one says female DJ ,I think the phrase would mean that women are less experienced to either be DJ or pilot.
There is no gender when it comes to job,so why should a woman be addressed as female DJ or pilot for occupying a male dominated field.
- What role do radio partners need to play in transforming masculinities?
ANS: Radio partners should engage the male folks on their radio programs to denounce abuse against women, the radio partners must engage men in conversations that’s seeks to bring about shared responsibilities in homes and society at large.
We need to start having conversations on radio on how men are helping to raise the children,fend for the littles,help the wives with house chores.
In trying to achieve a gender equal world,men should recognize that they are not superior than women but that they are equal as such they should begin to start valuing women as equal partners in development.If this is done,abuse against women will be a thing of the past.
- How can we promote positive masculinities in the media industry?
Ans: Media houses should start allowing the female reporters to also cover challenging tasks or conflict related stories such as wars ,strikes and protests etc.The female reporters should not only be given simple assignments to handle.They should be given tasks which are male dominated too.(my earlier submission)
Female reporters must be given sports assignments to cover also and not only the male folks.
I totally agree with others here that key and critical positions in media houses should also be occupied by the women.
We should stop looking at women as weaker vessels but inspire them to take up challenging positions too.
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Hello everyone
Thank you to all who participated in all the topics. This indeed was a great discussion and we learned so much.
Those who qualified for certificates will soon receive them. If you have not completed the evaluation survey yet, please do so. Here is the link: Positive masculinities e-discussion survey 2022
Cheers
Despite the fact that I experiencing a lot of things lately, this is my
little contribution to the fourth week topic…
It is important to focus on addressing the individual knowledge and
behavior of men and boys and the social norms that lead to violence against men against women and girls. It is also important to note that men and boys may also experience gender-based violence, including sexual violence.
Media partners should focus on facilitating programs that focus on
positive masculinities. Radio stations should provide equal participation for both men and women in the programs produced. This will be possible by giving women the opportunity to call in, invite them to
discussions various topics.
While talking to others, as well education should be provided about
respecting women journalists in the workplace. Some of women journalists especially in Tanzania strive to work hard without distinction from men but violence has intensified.
I conclude by reminding you a word from the bible which says, “A new
command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. John 13:34