Patriarchy Shackles Men too: Why Men need to be Allies for Gender Equality

Gender equality is not just about women's rights but also about men's liberation from patriarchal norms and expectations. In India, where patriarchal values are deeply ingrained in society, it can be challenging for men to give up their entitlement and privilege to support gender equality. However, Parivartan - Empower Against Abuse, an NGO working towards empowering children against abuse, has been successful in gaining allies amongst school boys by highlighting how patriarchy shackles men just as much as women.

During gender equality training, Parivartan asked boys where they faced suppression when women had freedom. Male facilitators poured their hearts out on how they missed out on displaying affection to their children and were expected to be the providers and discipline enforcers. They also spoke about loneliness being rampant amongst men as women build a community around them, while men are expected to be stoic.

Through its training programs, Parivartan aims to make patriarchy's impact on both genders visible and highlight how toxic behaviors and expectations impact men as well. Men need to be allies for gender equality for their sake as much as for their daughters. Parivartan's mission is to empower every child in India against abuse, and it has trained 80 facilitators in gender training in 19 locations across 8 states.

If you would like to volunteer or contribute to the cause, please reach out to Parivartan. Together, we can work towards creating a society where there are no victims of abuse and no perpetrators.