Reflections for International Women's Day
The involvement of men in care tasks is not yet a full part of the global gender equity agenda. However, the division of labor between two types of activities – caregiving and productive – has been and continues to be a major factor behind gender inequality.
• Women currently occupy 40% of the global workforce (World Bank, 2011);• However, several surveys show that women continue to perform between two and 10 times more domestic work than men. (Budlender, 2008);• The fact that women carry out the majority of tasks related to childcare, as well as other domestic tasks, contributes to women's salaries being, on average, 22% lower than men's, even when they occupy the same position ;
Domestic work is historically undervalued by societies and public policies and women are the ones most affected by this division. On the other hand, the participation of men in all spheres of care generates changes in gender patterns.
What are the benefits of men's involvement in caregiving and fatherhood tasks?
• Approximately four out of five men worldwide will become fathers at some point in their lives. And almost every man in the world has some connection with children as fathers, stepfathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, teachers, tutors, coaches or simply as friends. A growing and impressive body of research across the global South and North confirms that engaged, sensitive fatherhood and men's participation in children's lives are generally positive, not only for children, but also for women and men themselves. men.
• Studies show that having a non-violent father or male figure in the home environment helps boys reduce aggressive behavior and avoid rigid forms of masculinity.
• International research shows that 25 to 40% of adult men say they have been violent against their partners at least once. The most important factor for this use of violence is having witnessed a man being violent against a woman in their family when they were growing up (usually their own father or another man, against their mother).
• Studies show that couples are happier and their relationships are more stable when they share caregiving tasks and household activities more equally.
• In patterns of violence, young men who have found positive identities as involved fathers are often able to disengage from involvement in illicit or violent activities;
• For girls, having a close and positive relationship with their father or a male figure is associated with healthier relationships and less subservience to men and a greater sense of control over their bodies and their sexuality.
In other words, men's involvement in the spheres of care and fatherhood contributes to greater empowerment of girls and future women, and is essential for boys to grow up more involved with gender equality.
On this March 8th, International Women's Day, we hope that the appreciation of care as a way of achieving greater equality between women and men is present. Some achievements already point to important changes, but much can and must still be done, and involving men in this path is an important strategy.
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