“Masculinity, new masculinities” workshop carried out in the framework of the Initiative Saemaul Undong.

On the 20^th of December 2015, a workshop about masculinity was carried out in Sacaba (Cochabamba); organized by Raquel Santelices, UNDP gender specialist on the initiative Saemaul Undong (New Communities Movement) for the development of local capacities in production development, which influences the change of mentality in the communities. 

The workshop was attended by workers of the mayoral services of the municipalities of Tiquipaya and Sacaba and of the UNDP in Cochabamba, establishing a multidisciplinary group, allowing to reach a wider scope due to the quantity of the areas that were represented.

The workshop addressed themes such as gender violence, machismo, homosexuality and masculinity. Likewise,  the differences in power depending on gender were noted, given that these are recognized as worsening the physical and mental health in women and in the trauma of the domestic violence in Bolivia. The new Law 348, Comprehensive Law to ensure Women a Life Free of Violence, establishes mechanisms, measures and prevention policies, attention, protection and reparation to women who find themselves in violent situations; as well as the pursuit and punishment of the assailant under Article 2. Under this law, these workshops are a way to prevent cases of gender-based violence; a prevention mechanism and at the same time a way to raise awareness among the participants.

In the course of the event it was found that the identity of each individual is developed through its interaction with the social and cultural setting; that during the socialization process the child interiorizes the rules and values typical of an essentially patriarchal society. Therefore,  as stated by Johonny Rodriguez, the event facilitator, “the interesting thing of this project is creating a new conscience; the objective is not to change people but to improve, to  give them tools to be used in their everyday lives and to have a healthy coexistence, without violence”.

During the socialization process, when the child becomes acquainted with what is referred to as “masculine” behavior, his relationship with himself and others begins to form; thus, the acquired  norms and values can become distorted with time and eventually end in sexism, which is nothing more than an outdated masculinity along with violent behavior, feelings of superiority and prejudices.

As stated by the facilitator of the workshop,  one of the problems lies in that “the majority of the men that commit this kind of violent acts do not recognize the work done in the workshops and many think that it is degrading and that it is not their responsibility to do housework”.

Likewise, when the family faces the loss of employment, economic, emotional and identity tensions are generated.

The methodology used in the workshop was participative, reflecting on and retrieving concepts that already exist in the behavior of each individual in order to reformulate and not simply chat about what is good or bad. For Johonny Rodriguez, their role is to guide, suggesting different ways of thinking; the same fact that one person works on an idea, thinks about it, analyzes it and expresses it in front of his colleagues helps to assimilate these concepts and attitudes that may be found distorted in our mind.

In order to change themselves, men have to understand that even if the current norms seem to give them power advantages they are also enslaved by stereotypes and social norms that do not allow them to fully develop as individuals. A new masculinity, necessary for a complete human development, should be also based on learning to express emotions and feelings, asking for help or support, in training and accepting behaviors traditionally considered feminine.

Therefore, these workshops are for the benefit of both men and women. In the words of the Basque Institute for Women (EMAKUNDE), these kinds of groups become spaces of meeting, trust and group intimacy for the diffusion, awareness and following deconstruction of the sexist masculine model learned and apprehended during the socialization process. 

SOURCE: http://art.pnud.bo