Redefine

Redefine is a regional program with partner organizations in Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, and Belarus (in exile). The five-year program, launched in 2023, is run and coordinated by the international team at MÄN and funded by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. With our support at MÄN, the partner organizations carry out norm-shifting work aimed at engaging men and boys to promote gender equality and combat violence in the region.

The partner organizations have long worked to address violence and advocate for women’s rights, but targeted work with men and boys is new for most of them. Therefore, the initial phase of the program has focused on knowledge-sharing, strengthening the organizations' expertise, and providing them opportunities to learn and develop methods for working with men and boys.

Knowledge Sharing and Support

While we at MÄN support the partner organizations by sharing experiences from our work in Sweden and other countries, we also integrate their experiences into our Swedish initiatives. Examples of MÄN’s methods and tools that have been adapted for the partner organizations in 2023–2024 include Lilla rummet, Mansboxen, and conversation methods from our work with father groups.

As part of the program, we have established a regional platform for sharing knowledge and experiences. The partner organizations also receive support to develop and implement their local projects. The program includes recurring digital meetings and trainings, as well as in-person gatherings, both in Stockholm and across the partnership region. Additionally, we are working on developing national and regional research projects on masculinity as part of the program.

The Five Partner Organizations

The work of the partner organizations includes:

• reflective discussion groups for men, specifically targeting fathers, on topics such as norms, relationships/sexuality, identity, mental health, and violence

• psychosocial support for young men, both digitally and in person

• communication and advocacy about harmful masculinity norms through podcasts, videos, and social media.

Violence as a Significant Problem in the Region

The lack of gender equality and men’s violence is a well-recognized societal issue in the region, where the link between violence and patriarchal masculinity is strong. Although laws, policies, and strategies to combat violence exist in most of these countries, a culture of silence and stigma around violence against women persists. Approximately 20 percent of all women in the region have at some point been subjected to physical violence.

There are clear expectations for men and boys to conform to stereotypical masculinity norms, such as strength and control, rather than caregiving. This leads not only to violence against women and non-binary individuals but also violence against other men and self-directed violence. In light of this and the ongoing backlash against gender equality both regionally and globally, MÄN considers it essential to strengthen local organizations' work against harmful masculinity norms and in support of gender equality.

Report on Masculinity

Read the full report here!

This joint publication collects and summarizes studies on masculinity norms in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova conducted as part of the regional programme Redefine. The studies explore how men view and adhere to norms of masculinity norms across the four countries and informs the programme's work in challenging stereotypical masculinity norms and to encourage men to promote gender equality and stand up against violence.