Resources
Community Dialogues: Promoting respectful relationships and equitable communities, Tearfund, 2018 issue 106
Category: Communities coming together to overcome GBV
Subcategory: Tearfund
View ResourceThe community dialogues are a powerful tool designed to facilitate a series of reflections and discussions, with the ultimate goal of transforming individuals. When used in conjunction with the Transforming Masculinities approach, this tool will be most effective. The discussion themes are tailored to both women's and men's groups, with the expectation that they will come together for a joint reflection in Week 6. The themes are carefully crafted to prompt personal reflection and deepen understanding of the topics, incorporating the knowledge and expertise of the Gender Champions (facilitators) who will lead the discussions. The sessions are designed to be practical and action-oriented, with participants receiving personal and relational reflections to take home and reflect on during the week. This approach encourages participants to reflect at length, fostering a sense of accountability and creating a strong bond within their groups. By doing so, it ensures that the dialogues are a safe and transformative space, where individuals can share their thoughts and experiences openly.
Footsteps, Sexual and Gender based Violence – Tearfund, 2018 issue 106
Category: Communities coming together to overcome GBV
Subcategory: Training Manuals and materials
View ResourceThe 2018 issue 106 of the Footsteps newsletter, published by Tearfund, focuses on the theme of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV). The key points are: What is SGBV? Prevalence of SGBV, Causes of SGBV, Consequences of SGBV, Responding to SGBV, Consequences of SGBV. The newsletter features several case studies from around the world that demonstrate effective responses to SGBV. These include: 1. A community-based program in Rwanda that uses traditional leaders to promote gender equality and reduce SGBV 2. A project in South Africa that provides support to survivors of SGBV and engages men and boys in prevention efforts 3. A program in India that uses community-based initiatives to address SGBV and promote gender equality The issue concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing SGBV as a critical component of humanitarian response and development work. Tearfund calls for a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to preventing SGBV, including increased support for survivors and engagement with men and boys in prevention efforts.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in South Africa: A Brief Review, April 2016, The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Category: Communities coming together to overcome GBV
Subcategory: Reports and Studies
View ResourceThe Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) conducted this brief literature review about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with the aim of using the findings to inform its gender violence prevention initiatives in various communities. It is clear in this report that the cause of GBV cannot be attributed to a single factor, but an interplay of individual, community, economic, cultural and religious factors interacting at different levels of society. All these factors ranging from gender inequalities between men and women, social constructions of hegemonic masculinities, social perceptions of what it means to be a man, normalisation of violence, and cultural practices such as lobola and ukuthwala are discussed in the report. The report also discusses how the state’s failure to implement GBV-related policies and legislation also contributes to the problem. It is argued in the report that legislation cannot operate in isolation. It is critical that its drivers are understood in order to develop evidence-based interventions to address it. It is therefore important that the full context is considered, including how interventions aimed at addressing GBV are implemented and evaluated.
Men and women in partnership: Mobilizing faith communities to address gender-based violence, Elisabet le Roux, Stellenbosch, Nadine Bowers-Du Toit, Stellenbosch, April 2017, Diaconia 8(1):23-37
Category: Communities coming together to overcome GBV
Subcategory: Academic Articles
View ResourceThis article examines the critical role of faith groups in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), with a particular focus on the need for both men and women to become active agents of change. The intersection of religion and gender in addressing GBV is complex and multifaceted, posing a significant challenge to traditional approaches that rely solely on gendered strategies. Neither the traditional "women in solidarity" initiatives nor the more recent "men-only" initiatives can effectively address GBV in the patriarchal realities of faith communities in the Global South. While acknowledging the gains made through these strategies, the research highlights the need for a more nuanced approach that recognizes the critical role of women and men as partners in confronting GBV. Faith communities have a unique potential to address GBV, but their ability to do so is often hindered by a patriarchal belief system that fails to recognize or prioritize GBV. Given the pervasiveness of patriarchy and male privilege within most faith communities, faith leaders, particularly those who are male, should be targeted in particular. It is essential to recognize that GBV is not a women's issue, but rather a societal issue that requires collective action and ownership from all individuals, including men and boys. However, given the restrictive patriarchal structures that often exist in faith communities, it is crucial that men, especially male faith leaders, be engaged and incorporated into faith-based intervention strategies. This does not mean that men should be the sole targets or actors; rather, it is a call for female and male partnership in owning and addressing GBV within and through faith communities.
The Burden of Breadwinning Transformative Masculinities in the Context of HIV, Violence against Women and Gender Inequality – 2016, Brot fur die Welt
Category: Communities coming together to overcome GBV
Subcategory: Training Manuals and materials
View ResourceThe report explores the complex interplay between traditional gender roles, particularly male breadwinning, and the pervasive issues of HIV, violence against women, and gender inequality. The report underscores that traditional masculinity, which emphasises men as primary providers and authority figures, often exacerbates gender disparities and contributes to the spread of HIV and gender-based violence. The document emphasises the need for systemic change and the active participation of men in fostering gender equality to address the intertwined issues of HIV, violence against women, and broader gender inequities. The findings highlight that entrenched breadwinner expectations pressure men to engage in risky behaviours, such as multiple sexual partnerships and reluctance to seek health care, thereby increasing their vulnerability to HIV. This dynamic also fuels gender-based violence, as men may use aggression to assert their dominance when their economic role is threatened. The report advocates for transformative approaches to masculinity that promote equitable gender relations and shared responsibilities. It calls for engaging men in conversations about gender norms and encouraging behaviours that support both partners' well-being. Such transformative masculinities involve men in caregiving, challenge patriarchal structures, and promote healthy, non-violent relationships.