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Staff Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address during the Presidential Young Men and Boys Indaba that took place at the Maponya Mall in Soweto last week.
The Department of Basic Education collaborated with Primestars and SterKinekor for the screening of the “What about the Boys?” film and subsequent dialogue for young men and boys to become part of South Africa’s journey towards a society free from Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
DBE’s Director for Social Cohesion and Equity in Education, Likho Bottoman, explained that, “the young men’s dialogue was an open and honest conversation about what contributes to violence against women and girls, discussing patriarchal attitudes and practices for toxic masculinity to be challenged, as well as the influence of culture and media depictions of men and women to ensure that men and boys are not left behind, but become part of the solution. It is an intentional effort of the sector to create safe spaces for boys to confront their own vulnerabilities”.
During his address, President Ramaphosa said that, “there is a crisis in society; that crisis is violence against women and girls; violence that men perpetrate. Because it is men who are responsible for this scourge, men need to be part of bringing it to an end. We are encouraged that we have with us today young men from different parts of our country who have stood up and said yes, we want to be part of bringing about change. There must be an open and honest conversation about what contributes to violence against women and girls. We need to talk about patriarchal attitudes and practices. We need to challenge toxic masculinity, which is the idea that being a man means one must dominate and demean women. We must talk about the influence of culture and media depictions of men and women”.
President Ramaphosa referred to the pressure faced by SA men within families, in relationships, with friends, at school and in peer groups due to social ills and other challenges.
Many young men may not have positive role models due to absent fathers, whilst others face pressure to become sexually active when they are not ready to, or to engage in unsafe sex practices, leading to teenage pregnancies, the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
“We need to talk about sexuality in general, about stigma, bullying and even violence against gay or gender non-conforming young men. This is a problem in many of our communities.”
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga and Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, also voiced their gratitude towards the initiative.
“The programme focuses on reimagining and reinvent masculinities in sensitive, kind, respectful, accountable, expressive and nurturing ways. It is about working with young men and boys through theatres of learning to influence how they view themselves and the kinds of men that they grow into”.
The event was attended by Primestars Managing Director Martin Sweet, Gauteng Premier Mr Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, Junior Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Arabile Maphiri and representatives of civil society and business in collaboration towards raising a nation of good men.
More engagements of this nature are intended to take place in provinces towards developmental and integrated gender empowerment social programming for young men and boys.
INSIDE EDUCATION
