Gender, a word that gets all of us confused! Gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women, men, girls and boys. That is the universal definition of gender, so let us stick to that! 

When we say “gender-based discrimination”, here is the universal explanation. Gender discrimination describes the situation in which people are treated differently simply because they are male or female, rather than on the basis of their individual skills or capabilities.

We are all influenced by gender norms. Boys will be boys; girls belong to the kitchen. But here is the good news: we evolve. So do our way of thinking and our behavior.

Unfortunately, not everyone wants to cope with this evolution, and not everyone wants gender equity to go far. That is why, every single day when I wake up, I fight against stereotypes, gender stereotypes. And it starts with the way I interact with my children. 

I created a program tailored for men and boys and launched the MenEngage Madagascar network (which is part of the MenEngage Africa Alliance). It is a feminist network that believes in men and boys as allies for gender equity. Since 2016, C-for-C a local NGO that I am leading has played the role of secretariat for that network. We are implementing many actions aiming at changing men and boys’ behavior and providing psychological help for perpetrators of violence.

Involving men and boys in the fight against gender discrimination might sound strange. How can we involve perpetrators of discrimination in a fight against discrimination itself? Trust me, from my experience since 2016, this approach works and makes significant impact! 

Men can be allies too. When we talk about gender and gender discrimination, we do not talk about women only. We are talking about men and women.