I think the question you asked as (3) - reprinted below - is a vitally crucial one. Based on my research in Nicaragua on gender issues during the revolutionary and post-revolution period (1980s-90s), I concluded that the primary reason that the 'women's revolution' did not reach its potential was that the ONLY target of change was women. In other words, much time and energy (and money) was put into changing women's perceptions of themselves and society's perceptions of women, as well as opening up a myriad of opportunities for Nicaragua women. However, little time, energy and money (next to none) was spent on comparable approaches to the definitions, roles, responsibilities and opportunities of men. It was a very lopsided approach, as most governmental approaches to improving the situation of women are, and it had lopsided results. As long as only ONE part of the social equation of gender is changed, there will be a tension that really prevents profound and lasting change. Indeed, the incidence of domestic violence against women, abandonment of women, etc. remained high despite the positive steps taken by the Sandinista government toward gender equality. Certainly, the contra war and economic upheavals played a role in this failure, but to my mind, the greatest cause was the uneven approach to changing the gender ideology.
Suzanne Baker Anthropologist Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee, Omaha, Nebraska At 07:14 PM 1/23/02 -0500, End-Violence Moderator wrote: >3. What specific steps are needed to change definitions of "masculinity" >that contribute to violent behavior? What should be done by women? Men? >Government? International organisations? ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
