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Men aren’t from Mars: challenging machismo in Nicaragua

Can men unlearn machismo? A report by the Catholic Institute for International Relations documents a pioneering programme by the NGO CANTERA (Centre for Communication and Popular Education) in Nicaragua. Through training courses on masculinity and gender, CANTERA encourages men to examine and question and change traditional male values and behaviour.

Work on gender with men began in 1993: workshops provided a space for reflection on issues such as the social construction of masculinity, violence, power, love, paternity, relationships and sexuality. In 2000, men who have participated in these programmes set up the Association of Men Against Violence (AMAV) to consolidate the work, running workshops for young men from street gangs in poor neighbourhoods of Managua. Typically, the Association first approaches the gang leader and tries to convince him to participate and to involve other gang members. Then discussions are held to ascertain what issues the boys would be interested in addressing. Violence, both in the home and between street gangs, sexuality and family communication are the most popular topics. Sexuality is a taboo subject in the home and at school.

CANTERA and the AMAV’s work uses popular education methods and techniques, including personal history and experiences, games, debates and film. Course participants are encouraged to focus on their own experiences: to examine and unlearn society’s rules and expectations about being a man. The young men are encouraged to question male stereotypes by reconstructing the process of learning to be a man and the role that different groups play – the church, media, school, and family. Each workshop ends with participants drawing up proposals for change.

It is hoped that the critical analysis of masculine identities will provide the basis for developing equitable relationships between men and women, and for influencing the process of transforming the patriarchal model. Although men face strong pressure not to change, their concern with gender issues and their willingness to reflect and change represents a new opportunity. Coordinated strategies for gender awareness work with Nicaraguan men are now needed, and men’s participation in the analysis of male power in public, private and political organisations must be promoted.

Several elements of the popular education model have been crucial in enabling change:

using men’s own situation as a starting point
providing spaces for reflection and analysis where men can think about issues that they rarely discuss. Small group work enables sharing.
collective articulation of proposals for change enables men to think about what they can change and how they can support one another
emphasising solidarity with women as well as men’s own processes of unlearning machismo
courses bring together diverse groups - youth, adults, rural, urban
facilitators are committed, sensitive, flexible, and trained in popular education.

Policy recommendations include:

Work on gender and masculinity must continue to be developed in a pro-feminist framework with gender equity as its ultimate goal.
Men must take the ultimate responsibility for promoting and consolidating change processes in themselves and in other men.
In doing so they must recognise that critical input from women and women’s organisations is indispensable.
Initiatives on masculinity should take place within a broad framework focusing on the integrated development of all women and men and on improving the quality of their lives and relationships.

Source(s):
'Men aren’t from Mars: unlearning machismo in Nicaragua', Development Practice Paper, Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR), London, by Patrick Welsh, 2001

id21 Research Highlight: 22 March 2002

Further Information:
Patrick Welsh
Catholic Institute for International Relations
Unit 3 Canonbury Yard
190a New North Road
London N1 7BJ
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7354 0883
Fax: +44 (0)20 7359 0017
Contact the contributor: pwelsh@ibw.com.ni

Catholic Institute for International Relations, UK

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