Engaging East Timorese men in the process of establishing gender equality

Abstract

The equality of women and men is a prerequisite for peace. Social development interventions over recent decades have sought to achieve equality primarily by educating and liberating women from the shackles of customs and paradigms that serve to maintain gender inequality. It is increasingly recognized that due attention must be given to men's essential role in the process, to men's education and liberation. In East Timor the latter process has begun, albeit on a small scale. This study looks at ways to further advance this process. Three and a half years in East Timor provided the opportunity to engage in applied research using the methodology of ethnography. I gathered data using three main techniques: semi-structured interviews with more gender-equitable men, and with women and men occupied with the engagement of East Timorese men in gender equality; observation and direct participation within a wide range of settings from informal encounters on local beaches to high-level meetings with the president and government ministers; and analysis of pertinent primary and secondary documents. I identified that a number of interventions are being applied to the issue of engaging East Timorese men in gender equality, including use of: workshops and trainings; the performing arts; campaigns and the mass media; role-modeling; and the techniques of popular education, with varying levels of success. I found that the Association of Men Against Violence and its members are key players in the advancement of this process, and that they work closely with feminist organizations within East Timor.