The male engagement strategy in Sierra Leone: a feminist analysis

Male engagement or involvement, the acknowledgement of the central role of men in gender-based power inequalities, has gained traction in recent years. This study investigates the use of 'the male engagement strategy’ to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Sierra Leone and seeks to understand if these strategies continue to entrench patriarchal power relationships or whether they are gender transformative. 

In essence, Ingradoc investigated how male engagement is framed, conceptualised, and implemented at the donor, NGO and community levels in Sierra Leone. Their main finding is that, in Sierra Leone, where patriarchal bargains predominate, a gender-transformative approach could easily have unintended and adverse effects. Through participant observations of trainings and interviews with practitioners, this research found that even though there were positive outcomes in terms of engaging men as active participants in maternal health care and as allies in addressing GBV, the strategy falls short of atually being gender transformative. This is because in the training there is no active promotion of men’s critical reflection or their questioning of the individual practices, institutional dynamics and norms that create and reinforce gender inequalities and vulnerabilities for men and women.