Mainstreaming Men into Gender and Development: Debates, Reflections and Experiences

This collection of Oxfam Working Papers provides a critical review of the desirability, potential, and prospects for a more male-inclusive approach to gender and development (GAD). The collection is made up of six chapters which flag-up some of the key issues and potential controversies surrounding engaging men and masculinities in gender and development work. The chapters review the evolution from 'women in development' to 'gender and development' policy approaches, and consider reasons for including men in work on gender. It is now widely recognised, for example, that women-only approaches to development have limited impacts on gender relations. Involving men may therefore be a more effective strategy for reducing gender inequalities. Another chapter analyses how far the issue of 'men in development' has featured in the actual gender and development practices of development organisations. Moving beyond some of the 'whys' and 'wherefores', the final chapter considers the ways in which gender and development policy might realistically move towards a more male-inclusive approach. Drawing men together in workshops to discuss gender-based inequality is a potential way forward. Using fathering as a point of entry for involving men in GAD offers another possibility.