Transforming Gender Roles in Domestic and Caregiving Work: Preliminary Findings from Engaging Fathers in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Rwanda

Citation:

Doyle, Kate, Jane Kato-Wallace, Shamsi Kazimbaya, and Gary Barker. 2014. “Transforming Gender Roles in Domestic and Caregiving Work: Preliminary Findings from Engaging Fathers in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Rwanda.” Gender & Development 22 (3): 515–31.

Authors: Kate Doyle, Jane Kato-Wallace, Shamsi Kazimbaya, Gary Baker

Abstract:

This article draws on Promundo and RWAMREC's programmatic experiences in Rwanda of implementing MenCare+, a gender transformative approach to engaging young and adult men (ages 15–35) in caregiving, maternal, newborn, and child health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. We present initial results from fathers' groups with more than 600 men, including the impact of participation in these groups on men's participation in care work. The results confirm the importance for practitioners' planning strategies to engage fathers to think beyond men's token participation in care work, to use father participation as an entry point to truly transform gender dynamics within the home. The article provides practical lessons learnt to guide other organisations interested in working with men to transform norms around fatherhood and care work.

Keywords: caregiving, engaging men, Rwanda, maternal, newborn and child health, household gender dynamics

Topics: Gender, Women, Men, Gender Roles, Health, Households Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa Countries: Rwanda

Year: 2014