Studies on Men and Masculinity

Men, Gender Equality and Policy Response in India

This report analyses five policy documents that are national in scope, through local and regional in implementation, with the intention of seeing how gender and masculinity are figured in achieving gender equality. In the process, the report, through the representation of men and masculinities, is concerned with the achievement of human rights. The implementation of policy measures is tracked in the field – rural UP (Gorakhpur District) and rural Maharashtra (Pune District). The objective of the study is threefold:

To determine whether policy measures reflect gender equality;
Whether the implementation of such policies is influenced by the relation of masculinity to patriarchy;
To delimit arenas of intervention that privilege a more equitable gender relationship.

Men, Gender Equality and Policy Response in India

Report, English, Published 2009
The report prepared by CHSJ and SAHAYOG.

Men, Masculinity and Violence Against Women: Analysis of an Intervention

This study was conducted in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with 375 men in 2009 - 2010, to understand the impact of MASVAW (Men’s Action for Stopping Violence Against Women) a network with which CHSJ is closely associated. This quantitative evaluation of MASVAW was conducted to substantiate the changes in men that were earlier investigated through a qualitative study. It also aimed to understand the effect on men through their participation in MASVAW activities. A comparative cross sectional study was conducted among Core MASVAW activists, the men influenced by MASVAW activism, and a control sample of men who have not been exposed to MASVAW activities. A paper based on this report is being finalised for publication

Realisations and Relationships

Report, Hindi, 2011
This report is on Violence against Women published by SAHAYOG

Men Who Care: A Study of Men in Care Giving and Alternative Professions in India

This qualitative study on explores the motivation and circumstances which enable some men to adopt caring roles or go into a caring profession. It is part of global study being conducted in four other countries and coordinated by ICRW (USA) and Instituto Promundo (Brazil). The study aims to identify sets of conditions and possibilities which may influence men to think and act in non-hegemonic manners while at the same time not feel deprived, uncertain or unfulfilled. The study sample included nineteen men who were purposively sampled. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews twice with each subject helping them to reflect and explore their own situation. Thematic analysis was done to identify emerging patterns, The study identifies sets of inter-related influences and conditions which may allow men to exercise agency to act in less gender discriminatory manner . This study is important in highlighting conditions which may allow men to avoid the ‘hegemonic’ imperative in the specific context of India and may be useful in determining a methodology of working with men and masculinities towards a more human rights focused framework.

Men and Care - A Multi-Country Qualitative study of Men in Non Traditional Caregiving Roles

Study, English, 2012
This was published by Promundo and ICRW. India's qualitative studies were coordinated and authored by Abhijit Das and Satish Singh, Centre for Health and Social Justice