Our brains establish our social values, behaviours, and beliefs from an early age. It’s hard for adults to stray from the social culture they have been immersed in. Teaching our children and young people the values we want our future societies to hold is important, including the treatment of women and girls by men and boys.
Many of us see feminism as a fight for women by women. However, most cultures are increasingly recognising the importance of men and boys in our fight for gender equality. Men and boys are also victims of the patriarchy and would benefit from gender equality. Gender equality is a fight that needs to be fought from both sides.
When addressing gender issues, it’s important not to focus solely on girls, as this can lead to victim-blaming. Providing comprehensive gender equality education for boys is essential. Additionally, promoting respect for women in a boy’s social circle and providing strong female role models can contribute to fostering a culture of gender equality. Good gender equality education for boys can encompass many areas of life, from discouraging harmful language to defining the boundaries of sexual harassment.
Overall, achieving gender equality should not solely be the responsibility of women. It’s crucial to educate and involve both men and boys in the fight for gender equality. One way we demonstrate our commitment to educating boys about the respectful treatment of women and girls is through the educational workshops of our PADs education project. On any given distribution day, boys assist the staff in distributing sanitary pads to female peers and sometimes participate in the pictures we take on the day.
