WHAT INCREASES RISK OF MEN’S USE OF VAW AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT IT?Results from the International Men and Gender

Equality Survey (IMAGES)

Gary Barker, Juan Manuel Contreras, Brian Heilman, Ajay Singh, Ravi Verma

International Center for Research on WomenMarcos Nascimento and Marcio Segundo,

Promundo

The Questions … • What do men report as their current

practices related to IPV, as well as to care work, health,and interactions with intimate partners and children?

• What factors contribute to more equitable and non-violent relationships?

• What are the childhood and social factors associated with violence – and with gender equality and caregiving?

• What are programmatic and policy-related implications of these findings?

International Men and Gender Equality

Survey (IMAGES) • Multi-country study on men and gender equality, asking men and women

about men’s practices and attitudes• Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Croatia, India, Rwanda – 2009-2010• South Africa MRC study on men, health and violence incorporated some

IMAGES questions and provided questions for IMAGES• 5 additional sites in Asia starting in 2010 coordinated by Partners for

Prevention • To date, >15,000 interviews in 7 countries completed• Stratified random household surveys in at least two major urban areas,

women and men ages 19-59• One of the most complete surveys of its kind that includes men’s and

women’s assessments and includes a range of gender issues including GBV, work-life balance, health/health-seeking, care work, gender norms

• Coordination: ICRW and Promundo

The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES)- Partners

Overall Coordination: ICRW and Promundo

Countries• Brazil, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Rwanda, Croatia, India

Collaborating Organizations• Center for Gender Studies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway• ICRW – Asia Regional Office, Delhi, India• Colégio de Mexico, Mexico, D.F.• Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa• University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa• CulturaSalud, Santiago, Chile • Partners for Prevention: A UN Joint Programme for Ending Violence Against Women in

Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand• CESI, Zagreb, Croatia• Rwandan Men’s Resource Center

The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES)- Items

• Gender Equality and Quality of Life Study – Norway• WHO Multi-country study on VAW• GEM Scale• Childhood Trauma Scale• DHS• Men, Health and Violence Study – South Africa –

Medical Research Council• Impact evaluation studies from Promundo and

ICRW

In spite of 5-10 years of laws against GBV and prevention activities, rates still alarmingly high

Key factors associated with men’s reports of IPV

• Economic stress• Childhood witnessing of IPV and experiences of

violence in the home, school and community• Gender norms• Alcohol use

Work stress is related to men’s use of IPV

Statistically significant relationship (at p < .05 level) in Chile, Croatia, and India

Experiencing violence during childhood is common for most men

Witnessing IPV as a child a key factor in men’s use of IPV

Statistically significant relationship (at p < .001 level) in all countries

Men believe in gender equality in the abstract and in the specific but ….

Men's Attitudes about Laws Against VAWIMAGES 2009

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Law makes it too easy to charge men Law don't offer enough protection for victim

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Chile Brazil Mexico India

A majority of men think GBV laws make it too easy to arrest men – suggesting the need for more public education

Is caregiving a possible pathway to change and promotion of non-violence?

• In India, Brazil and Croatia, men’s participation in domestic activities, including child care was associated with:

- Women’s overall satisfaction with their intimate relationship/marriage

- Women’s sexual satisfactionIf many women and men see the benefits of

more equitable relationships, why is it so slow to promote faster change?

Brief Reflections from the Qualitative Component: “Men who Care” study

• Mexico: resentment from low income men toward partner and children related to economic stress; tremendous generational changes; fatherhood as first space for showing emotions and space for tremendous change in men’s behaviors and attitudes

• ““Me gusta hacer las labores de la casa porque es para Me gusta hacer las labores de la casa porque es para nuestro bienestar, de mis hijos y mi esposa. Yo limpio la nuestro bienestar, de mis hijos y mi esposa. Yo limpio la casa para que mis hijos lleguen y la disfruten. Yo limpio casa para que mis hijos lleguen y la disfruten. Yo limpio para que ellos estpara que ellos estéén bien, aseadosn bien, aseados…… Bueno Bueno luego viene luego viene como la depresicomo la depresióón. n. Pero bueno, lo voy a hacer, porque si Pero bueno, lo voy a hacer, porque si no lo hago quino lo hago quiéén lo va a hacer, y esto va a ser un n lo va a hacer, y esto va a ser un despapayedespapaye…”…” (Sergio). (Sergio).

Source: Juan Guillermo Figueroa, Colegio de MexicoSource: Juan Guillermo Figueroa, Colegio de Mexico

Possible ways forward: From IPV prevention with men to a broader

gender equality agenda• Growing evidence base of evaluated interventions

reaching men and boys in GBV prevention (Program H, Sexto Sentido)

• Those showing the most impact focus on questioning underlying gender norms

• Need for comprehensive prevention that includes ending corporal punishment, attention to boys’ childhood experiences of violence

• Need for attention to caregiving roles, men’s roles as fathers, men’s and women’s income security

• Comprehensive policies and approaches that find men’s self-interest in change while also ending impunity for IPV and empowering women

Some Regional Activities

• Sports-based activities as a way to reach boys and men

• Getting White Ribbon activities into the public sector

• Promoting paternity leave and men’s involvement in childbirth and other policy approaches(Brazil, Chile)

• Building the field of practice with men via MenEngage – in dialogue and partnership with women’s rights groups