Gender Equality

The migration of women has always been an important component of international migration. As of 2000, the United Nations Population Division estimates that 49 per cent of all international migrants were women or girls, and that the proportion of women among international migrants had reached 51 per cent in more developed regions.

Women often migrate officially as dependent family members of other migrants or to marry someone in another country. Female migrants are, however, increasingly part of flows of migrant workers, moving on their own to become the principal wage earners for their families.

 Most migrant women move voluntarily, but women and girls are also forced migrants leaving their countries in order to flee conflict, persecution, environmental degradation, natural disasters or other situations that affect their security, livelihood or habitat.

What is the very first thing that comes to your mind when someone talks about gender and furthermore gender equality?

But seventy years later of the signature of the UN charter some cultures and countries remain the same about this issue.

Seventy years later of the declaration of the equality and dignity among all of us women are still being subject of abuse and mistreat.

Seventy years later society continues to labeling men as a combination of a given behavior patterns and women as a different set of predetermined behaviours.

seventy years later we continue to look to the other side and saying 'that, happens in other societies not here.'

Seventy years from now, how things are going to be?

According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women):

• Gender; refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a women or a man in a given context. 

• Equality between women and men (gender equality); refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female.

In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities.

Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration, recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men. 

Gender equality is not a women’s issue but should concern and fully engage men as well as women.

This is why over the last 20 years a new trend, that deals with gender equality issues,  it have been developing more and more, the so called 'New Masculinities'. 

And what is it?

Basically is to promote gender equality and prevent violence involving men and boys in partnership with women and girls in different fields such as Fatherhood and Care, Conflict and Security, Economic Justice, Violence Prevention, Youth and Equality.

When thinking on these issues usually the ones related as the solely victims are women. in reality what happens is that both men as much as women suffer from this kind of abuses the only difference is that society has been structured in such manner that is expected to hear just women and girls having these problems, instead when a man has passed through a traumatic experience in their childhood or adolescence like sexual abuse or violence is very difficult for them to open themselves due to the shame they think will get and the fact is that they grow thinking that the behavior is normal and so they tend to do the same thing to the future generation and finally leading into the creation of an endless cycle.

The new masculinity approach engages men and boys in such a manner that they know they are in a safe environment where they can tell their experiences and work through them.

Half a century ago it was still difficult to see a father in the delivery room, or a father that would change the diapers of the baby or do the cleaning the house. Nowadays is often seen parents sharing responsibility of the home, men wanting to take care of their child, be present in their life, supporting their partner and involving more and more into a life of equality and respect.

There are many programs supporting this change and helping to create a new and more equal view of society, for more detailed information visit:

www.promundo.org.br   

www.men-care.org

www.menangage.org

This is why right now is the time to change, to do something possible and contribute to society.

Right now we must engage ourselves our families and friends in remove the label given by society and start acting more like partners men and women.

And so right now, what are you going to do? The real change begins with one person and is that one person's commitment that drags all the surrounding elements.

So please comment, talk, share, engage, act, do, the time is now!