In the United States, women's rights to sexual and reproductive health have recently suffered numerous rollbacks at the Supreme Court , women are still burdened with the burden of unpaid work at home, and although teen pregnancy continues to fall, the U.S. still has one of the highest rates among developed nations. Since its founding in 1997 in Brazil, Promundo has engaged men and boys in several countries around the world to reduce gender inequality and address many of the same problems.
With almost 20 years of global operating experience, Promundo, through its office in Washington, DC, is now taking its international approaches to the United States. The United States is one of the richest and most developed countries in the world, but it ranks 55th out of 155 countries in the UN Gender Inequality Index, exposing disparities between men and women in health, empowerment and the job market.
Promundo's transformative gender programs, aimed at men and boys, are fundamental to addressing these inequalities and building more egalitarian relationships. These programs – such as Program H for young men and Program P for new fathers and couples – have been rigorously evaluated. They have demonstrated significant impact in changing the way men and boys see themselves, as well as reducing self-reports of violence and unsafe sexual practices. In 2013, Promundo began formative research to bring these programs to the United States to address harmful masculinities and traditional gender norms that underlie many of the country's discouraging gender-related indicators.
Program H
Through an interactive curriculum, Program H encourages young men to take a critical look at the messages they receive about what it means to be a man, discuss and practice new healthy behaviors. Adapted in more than 22 countries around the world, Program H is currently being tested in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is in the early stages of implementation in Washington, DC. Renamed Manhood 2.0 , the program was adapted in Pittsburgh to address harmful gender norms, high rates of teen dating abuse and dating violence. Young people meet in groups to learn to question concepts related to gender, messages conveyed by the media, aggression and violence. They explore the relationships between masculinity, social expectations, and sexual aggression, as well as discussing healthy alternatives to hyper-masculinity. In Washington, DC, the program will be adapted to focus primarily on preventing teen pregnancy, in keeping with its overall goal of promoting positive gender norms and reducing violence.
Program P
Following the release of the State of Fatherhood in the United States report in June 2016, Promundo will implement Program P in the United States to involve fathers in caring for their children and promote gender equity in families. As part of this initiative, Promundo, in partnership with Mary's Center in Washington, DC, will adapt Program P's curriculum for Hispanic parents. Promundo is also working with Highland Community Services to adapt the program for parents in the prison system. The curriculum includes a series of activities and sessions that focus on care, gender, violence and conflict, stages of child development and positive parenting practices. These interventions will be evaluated to ensure that the methodology remains evidence-based and can be modeled and adapted for application at the national level.
Leveraging Promundo's extensive research, gender equity work and advocacy, along with the experienced work of partners based in the United States, these innovative interventions will bring the country a global perspective that is often left out of conversations or misunderstood in areas related to care, men's health and gender equity in the United States. For more information about Promundo programs, click here .
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