14 JAN 2025

Creating Gender Equitable Communities: The Role of Men and Boys

Author: Dr Bharti Singh, Public Health Advocate, Co-Founder DIBHA Foundation

Engaging all genders to build supportive and inclusive societies.

To build truly gender-equal communities, we need to look deeper into the root of the issues. Often, when we talk about challenges faced by women, the focus is only on creating solutions for women. But the truth is, focusing solely on women isn’t enough. A woman’s life is connected to an entire network of relationships and roles. Before she even gets to know herself, she’s given a title—like daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, wife, or mother. Over time, she’s expected to change her identity, even her title, from Miss to Mrs.—something that doesn’t happen for men. This simple difference is worth thinking about. While there’s been a lot of talk and effort to bring women into the mainstream, we often miss the bigger picture. True equality means involving everyone, not just women, in the solution.

Women face many challenges around the world. For starters, many girls don’t get equal access to education. Even when they do, they often face unequal pay and fewer opportunities to take on important leadership roles. Safety concerns and limited access to proper healthcare add to their struggles. On top of this, balancing household responsibilities with professional work can feel overwhelming for many women. Early marriage and childbirth are also major hurdles, as they often cut short a woman’s education and personal growth. Adding to these challenges are societal norms and pressures, which make life even more difficult for women by restricting their choices and freedom.

When addressing these challenges, we often focus exclusively on women, overlooking a critical factor for real change—engaging men. Men play a pivotal role in fostering gender equality, yet they are sometimes unaware of the struggles women face because they’ve never been informed or educated about these issues. This lack of awareness contributes to behaviors and mindsets that inadvertently perpetuate inequality. By concentrating solely on empowering women, we miss an opportunity to involve men as allies in this journey. Educating and sensitizing men about the impact of gender inequality—on women, society, and even themselves—can drive meaningful behavioral change and create a more balanced approach to tackling these issues. After all, lasting change requires collaboration, not isolation, between genders.

It’s essential to promote open conversations and inclusive programs that engage men, encourage empathy, and challenge traditional norms. By doing so, we can create an environment where both men and women actively contribute to breaking barriers and building a more equitable society.