Global symposium aims to change gender stereotypes

A man will always be the sole breadwinner of the family and the woman's rightful place is in the kitchen space - these chauvinistic stereotypes irrevocably embedded within our mindsets have created gender inequality in our social institutions. These are the issues being discussed in the capital at an ongoing global symposium.

The second MenEngage Global Symposium 2014, kickstarted in the capital Monday where academicians, activists and practitioners from around the world are participating to find ways of engaging boys and men in a dialogue to reduce gender inequality in the society.

"We should engage men in the right way to find ways to tackle gender injustice in the society," actor Rahul Bose said.

"We need to redefine masculinity, and institutions should take the first step ahead to promote gender sensitisation. We should also look at ways of reaching out to the male members of the victim family....," he added.

The four-day symposium that will end Nov 13, aims to consolidate and collate diverse research, create an appropriate and safe space for discussion and dialogue on complex issues related to working men.

This would help in furthering work on human rights and issues and identify new strategies and approaches to strengthen work on gender and social justice, among others.

"We hope to ignite a global movement of solidarity of gender equality and empowerment," said Lakshmi Puri, deputy executive director of UN Women.

"Men continue to behave in a certain way because many women allow that and not challenge that," she added.

The only way, Puri said, one can change this grim scenario is to seek how we engage men and women together to bring out this social change.