Faith-Based Approaches to Transforming Masculinities for Gender Justice & Equality: A Two-Day Consultation

"[D]espite the promise of faith-based approaches to gender equality, there is extremely limited availability of systematic review or systematized evidence to support this work."

MenEngage Alliance and Tearfund organised a 2-day consultation in Washington, D.C., United States (US) in August 2016 to collectively explore and gain better understanding of faith-based approaches to transforming masculinities for gender justice. Twenty-two gender experts, including some faith leaders, from within and outside the Alliance and faith-based organisations, came together to share experiences, explore lessons learned from working with faith-based approaches for gender equality, and begin to develop a joint agenda. This report summarises the discussions.

In providing background to the consultation, the organisers note that spirituality, religion, or faith-based beliefs significantly influence the lives of more than 85% of the global population. Such belief systems and associated practices can strongly influence believers' norms and value systems, both positively and negatively. "While a critical evaluation of the roles played by faith-based belief systems in shaping gender norms is essential, it is also important to work with people of faith to promote positive interpretations of spiritual, faith and religious values, supportive of parity and justice."

The consultation began with a focus on sharing experiences from around the world of working with faith-based approaches and with faith leaders for gender justice and transforming masculinities. Participants from different regions and contexts shared strategies, challenges faced, and lessons learned from a wide range of programmes, campaigns, and advocacy initiatives. There was a general agreement that faith, religion, and notions of masculinities (values around what it means to be a man) are deeply interrelated and shape each other closely, partly stemming from the fact that, typically, religious leaders across different world faiths are male. There was an acknowledgement of the disconnect between the teaching of religious texts within various cultures and traditions, on the one hand, and the multiple interpretations of such teachings at the general public level, on the other. Historically, these texts have been interpreted by men, and much of these interpretations have promoted male dominance and even violence against women and girls. On the other hand, there is considerable scope for the reinterpretation of religious texts, and there have been interpretations compatible with human rights, feminist principles, and gender equality. In this regard, the potential of religion as a catalyst for positive social change was acknowledged.

During the next session, participants presented the faith-based programmes and initiatives with which they were involved. (See Annex D for links to the full presentations.) Some selected highlights:

• Participants agreed that well executed and strategic faith-based programmes and initiatives can be an effective means of transforming social and gender norms, due to the credibility of religious leaders and institutions in society.
• The presentations pointed to a need to create networks and partnerships to amplify the voices of feminist faith leaders and feminist religious interpretations and tofoster an alternative, progressive global discourse on faith and gender, as part of a cohesive, intersectional, social justice movement.
• The presenters emphasised the need to apprehend the difference between two different but viable strategies: working with faith leaders and working with faith communities.
• There is a recognition that religious leaders and institutions are often suspicious of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which are perceived as representing a western agenda, while NGOs are often sceptical about religious leaders' patriarchal ideologies and significant power. Building relationships between both parties, based on mutual respect, transparency, accountability, and trust is therefore an essential, though slow, process. It is important that faith leaders and communities feel listened to as well as made aware of disagreements and tensions.
• Framing and language when engaging with people of faith were said to be crucial; it is often necessary to adapt tone and language, and not utilise terms considered "development jargon", such as patriarchy, equality, or justice. One common strategy that emerged from the presentations was that of starting with less contested entry points such as violence against women, HIV/AIDS, or girls' access to education and from there introduce other issues once trust had been established.
• Participants discussed the considerable amount already written about faith and gender justice by feminist academics and activists, including feminist interpretations of religious texts, that could be useful tools in attempting to "speak the same language" as religious communities and leaders.
• Sonke, Shirakat, Tearfund and Muslims for Progressive Values have worked directly with faith leaders to jointly come up with programme ideas, activities, and strategies. By doing so, they have been able to build ownership and respect among faith communities and leaders.
• A common emphasis in the presentations was on creating spaces for dialogue with faith communities, as distinct from monologues delivered by religious leaders. It was considered important to make space for questions, critical thinking, and clarification of confusion about faith or religion. Sometimes, just the intentional efforts by NGOs to get religious leaders join the table for discussion was in itself a promising breakthrough and a way to identify areas of common ground.

Lessons learned, challenges, and observations that emerged from these experience were the focus of the next phase of the consultation. Some key points:

• Those working in the sector of women's rights or gender justice have very limited knowledge and understanding of religious texts and teachings, which can create a barrier to engagement.
• The work with faith-based approaches must be contextualised to each setting and should have a programmatic vision, rather than a project character.
• Given the diversity that exists within the gender equality field and amongst faith leaders and institutions, there can initially only be alliances in relation to certain issues, rather than on a full gender equality agenda.
• Many organisations using faith-based approaches have faced a backlash from women's rights organisations and from the media, who feel this work betrays what they stand for.
• It can be a challenge to get faith-based actors to the table, as opposed to only secular development professionals.
• While acknowledging that there are faith-based groups and leaders who are already closely working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning (LGBTIQ) communities, the attitudes of many religious leaders to LGBTIQ rights were identified as a common challenge.

The second day focused on exploring strategic ways forward and the creation of a joint agenda. It began with an introduction to the MenEngage Alliance, including its structure, organisation, and strategies. Then, the group was divided into 4 smaller groups to elaborate their responses to the following question: WHY should the MenEngage Alliance incorporate faith-based approaches into their work/ WHY should faith-based organisations incorporate a men and masculinities approach into their work? One reply: The lack of space within faith communities for dialogue on gender equality was recognised, and it was noted that many religious spaces lack the resources, awareness, and skills to begin these conversations. The Alliance can provide tools to help instigate constructive dialogue.

"Faith, gender and masculinities” is a learning agenda for MenEngage Alliance. Participants were requested to collectively come up with the basic ingredients of a joint agenda for the Alliance and its partners, including the participants of the consultation. One aspect of the WHAT: As the global space shrinks for women and girls, social justice, LGBTQI rights, and human rights in general, the Alliance and participants are obliged to work together to create a counter narrative to harmful faith or religious-based justifications of violations of women's and LGBTQI rights. Participants identified a number of activities with potential allies and stakeholders for faith-based work, including enabling UN Women, who also prioritise this agenda in their new strategy, to play a facilitator role and be a point of reference in this dialogue for the women's rights groups as well as for the faith-based institutions with whom they work globally. Finally, the participants identified various strategies to strengthen understanding and partnerships for faith-based approaches. To conduct a mapping exercise to understand what faith-based initiatives exist within its membership, and what faith-based organisations are doing in relation to men and masculinities, was identified as a first step. While doing so, the Alliance is advised to also map tools, resources, and evidence on this work and to create a "knowledge pool" for those working in the field.

MenEngage Alliance says that it looks forward to taking its dialogue with faith-based leaders and organisations - especially in collaboration with feminist faith leaders - ahead, further building on its members' ongoing innovative and locally-relevant work. With this, they hope to continue strengthening their collective efforts and voices to counter religious and other forms of faith-informed fundamentalisms.