Description
Czech society does not solve the problem of persistent inequality between women and men. One of the important causes of the problem is the attitudes of most men, who hold important decision-making positions. In a grassroots way, we will focus on a sample of men-politicians from the communal level, we will help twenty men to see the problem and reflect on their own attitudes. We will use an innovative form of discussion meetings and create our own production of documentary theater. In four municipalities, this will be reflected in concrete changes. We will use the experience in an advocacy campaign aimed at deputies and senators. We will get ten new equality ambassadors.
Unequal status of women in the Czech Republic. In an international comparison, we are around 80th place (WEF index). In the EU, we are among the worst in 6 categories (work, health, time, finance, knowledge and power) (EIGE index 2020). The low status of Czech women corresponds to the low representation in decision-making positions and public space and to the high incidence of violence against women (95% of victims of domestic violence). Causes: Overlooking and questioning the reasons for tackling the gender equality agenda. The low identification of men with an agenda.
We present a plan to make 20 men of the villages more sensitive and active, which is an example of the release of the first stone in the dam. An unjust system only works if everyone respects and maintains it. In addition, we will make specific changes in the municipalities. This in itself is a significant change with a strong inspiration potential that we will use in the advocacy campaign aimed at national policies, we will get 10 men, ambassadors, who will be equality lawyers at the highest level in the future.
Summary of project results
Czech society does not solve the problem of persistent inequality between women and men. One of the important causes of the problem is the attitudes of most men, who hold important decision-making positions. In a grassroots way, we will focus on a sample of men-politicians from the communal level, we will help twenty men to see the problem and reflect on their own attitudes. We will use an innovative form of discussion meetings and create our own production of documentary theater. In four municipalities, this will be reflected in concrete changes. We will use the experience in an advocacy campaign aimed at deputies and senators. We will get ten new equality ambassadors. Unequal status of women in the Czech Republic. In an international comparison, we are around 80th place (WEF index). In the EU, we are among the worst in 6 categories (work, health, time, finance, knowledge and power) (EIGE index 2020). The low status of Czech women corresponds to the low representation in decision-making positions and public space and to the high incidence of violence against women (95% of victims of domestic violence). Causes: Overlooking and questioning the reasons for tackling the gender equality agenda. The low identification of men with an agenda.
Our goal was to improve the awareness of men (politicians) about the problem of gender inequality and to raise awareness that they are the key players who can and should solve the problem more solve. Thanks to the implementation of the project, we came into closer contact with politicians from the municipal level and were able to discuss it in detail with them at the so-called genderman debates, for some it was quite an initiation experience. At the same time, we established similar cooperation and communication with a number of politicians from the parliamentary level, even though we did not mention it so much in the project plan, but we consider this as significant, because it is they who have a strong influence on their colleagues from the communal level. It was possible to create a pro-target group including male politicians from different levels. We organized the planned genderman debates and transferred the captured arguments into a policy paper that was approved by the Government Council for Gender Equality. A successful theater performance focused on the topic of men and gender equality brings a new way of opening up the topic in Czech society. There is a lot of interest in the performance and we expect many times more performances than we planned in the project application.
We consider it significant that a number of these politicians identified with our policy paper Men and power in public administration and their activities fulfill his specific points. We have collected contacts for politicians at both levels in a database and will be in contact with them even after the end of the project. We consider a theatrical performance created using the documentary method to be a significant contribution to spreading the necessary awareness described above in a new and innovative way. The effect may not be visible right away, but we believe that we contributed to solving the problem of gender inequality with the project at a key level (male responsibility), which our Norwegian partner confirmed with appreciation. Project activities have an obvious impact on the awareness of male politicians in the Czech Republic. Especially in the Senate of our Parliament and at the municipal level. However, we still have a lot of work to do at both levels, and educational activities are very desirable. We believe in further cooperation with our excellent Norwegian partner.
Summary of bilateral results
Centre of Equality has been project partner in the project Grassroots Male Advocates for Equality of Women and Men. Through the meetings , Centre of Equality as a project partner, have been informed about plans and policy papers, introduced the other organisations involved in the project and participated in discussions on different challenges and possibilities on the different stages of the project. At one of the meeting the Centre of Equality gave a presentation about best practise when it comes to working with gender equality in the municipalities. Masculinity and men’s place in the equality work is another topic that has been central on the meetings. In the Czech Republic men still have the privileges and power, and there are, to a greater degree than in Norway, dominant male structures in the society. This has been, as far as we understand, a great challenge in the project, but also a reason why the project was funded in the first place. While the main perspective in this project has been to engaged men to advocate for equality especially when it comes to women’s rights, the debate in Norway is taking another direction. For these reasons, the project was rewarding for both parties and we plan to continue our cooperation in the future.