Comments
This priority measure places the emphasis on building new concepts of masculinity. The portion relating to men’s access to information, counselling and sexual and reproductive health services is covered more specifically in other chapters of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, in particular priority measures 11, 12 and 41, while the portion relating to equal participation in care-giving is covered in priority measure 53, in this same chapter.
Possible lines of action
1. Incorporate gender equality aspects into basic education. 2. Mount systematic campaigns for cultural change to promote gender equality in all social spheres, public and private, so as to help banish attitudes that reinforce gender stereotypes. 3. Take steps to promote and facilitate men’s participation in child-rearing activities, such as through paternal leave.
Related instruments, forums and mechanisms
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, article 5 (“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures: (a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women”) and article 10 (“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women [...] (c) The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education by encouraging coeducation and other types of education which will help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of textbooks and school programmes and the adaptation of teaching methods”).
Santo Domingo consensuses, agreement 51 (“Eliminate sexism and gender stereotypes in education systems, books and teaching materials, and eradicate biases in teachers’ perception of boys’ and girls’ performance in sciences, including mathematics and technology, broadening the training of educators for equality and promoting teaching practices free from prejudices and stereotypes”).
Quito Consensus, agreement xx (“Formulate and apply State policies conducive to the equitable sharing of responsibilities by women and men in the family, overcoming gender stereotypes and recognizing the importance of care-giving and domestic work for economic reproduction and the well-being of society as one of the ways of overcoming the sexual division of labour”).
