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International Bulletin - July 1998

Masculinity and a Culture of Peace

"The statistics are clear". There is an overwhelming connection between violence and masculinity." said Robert W. Connell, professor of education at the University of Sydney, as he began a presentation at UNESCO headquarters, summarising the conclusions of the expert group meeting "Male Roles and Masculinities in the Perspective of a Culture of Peace."

Author of the best-selling book Masculinities, Mr. Connell served as rapporteur of the meeting, which grew out of the work of UNESCO's "Women and a Culture of Peace" programme. Held in Oslo, Norway, September 24 - 28 and bringing together specialists, both men and women, in gender issues, it was the first United Nations conference to address male socialisation and identity in the context of peace strategy.

Because soldiers, murderers and rapists are almost exclusively men, it is obvious that examining masculinity is crucial to the discussion of a culture of peace. Not all men are violent, however, masculinity must be recognised as socially constructed rather than biologically determined, and as pluralistic rather than monolithic. Action to change the constructed male's sex roles and reduce the connection between masculinity and violence is difficult, but possible. Models exist, and UNESCO and other organisations can play an important role in identifying and promoting them.

Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO, called for increased empowerment of women to bring about a culture of peace. "Once more," he said, "we are faced with a disproportion of masculine influence. Ninety percent of the protagonists in the scenario are men, and the results are not good. At the end of this century it is so relevant to say, 'Let us try to have a better balance.' The disparity is the root of so many problems...we are in a culture of force."

Male predominance "is not the right way," emphasised Mr. Mayor. "We must do our best to counteract this cliche', that those who are drivers must be men...Here again, in all these issues, there is one solution: to give all man and women the mastery of their own lives and the construction of their own futures, the capacity of being themselves. If we progress in this, we will progress in equality. There is only one way - education."

Following Mr. Mayor's comments, the themes from the Oslo meeting were presented. Experts examined the recent empirical research on men and masculinity. The meeting looked at the traditional and new ways of understanding masculinities, emphasising a broader, dynamic view including economic and historical dimensions.

Hope for change comes from the new forms of activism and governmental programs involving men working for peace. Examples of programs include the White Ribbon movement in Canada symbolising men's commitment to end violence against women and in-service police training in El Salvador and the Philippines focusing on gender dynamics.

For progress to be made, men must be convinced that they have something to gain from a culture of peace. Among the advantages mentioned were that men were less likely to be the victims of violent masculinity ranging from war to pollution. Twenty six recommendations came from this meeting from gender-sensitive teacher-training to encouraging family-friendly work-life forms.

Ingeborg Breines, director of UNESCO's "Women and a Culture of Peace" programme, made some concluding remarks about the continuing struggle for gender equality, a prerequisite for the culture of peace. "What came to the forefront at the Oslo meeting", she said, "is that men are socialised as if they were entitled to dominant positions in the family, in the workplace and elsewhere. Violence results when entitlement is unfulfilled."

Editors note: for more details, the full report of this meeting is available at the UNESCO's Culture of Peace website.

Last Modified: November 29, 2002