Shaping Male Role Models

U Than Htay is a 55-year-old man from Hlaing Thar Yar who used to consider housework as a “woman’s job”. He had never done any housework or ever helped with cooking, washing clothes or cleaning. He did not need to for he was a boy and favoured by his parents. Although he was never violent, it never crossed his mind to stop other men from being abusive. He said “Men are favored and do not need to do household work. This has been normalized for decades. I continued those norms in my own family. My wife and I would scold our daughter if she went out at night and let our sons do whatever they want”.

Everything changed after a chance encounter with ActionAid Myanmar’s Women’s Right’s team. U Htay’s engagement in the Safe Spaces programme was the start of a transformative journey. He is one of several trained male role models from Hlaing Thar Yar, one of the biggest and most populated townships in the country. Hlaing Thar Yar is a poor, overcrowded area inhabited largely by economic immigrants from other states and towns. The occurrence of gender-based violence is high and support for survivors is limited. AAM aim is to reduce violence against women and to raise awareness through education and the empowerment of male role models. Organized training sessions aim to promote the engagement of men who play a vital role in changing society. The issue of gender-based violence had never been brought to U Htay’s attention prior to his engagement with AAM. Now he has become a passionate and vocal advocate for the cause.

He stressed that Myanmar is dominated by a patriarchal culture and men should take responsibility to reduce gender-based violence in their communities. “I am a firm believer that we can break barriers and have a significant outcome” he says, “If it wasn’t for ActionAid Myanmar, I wouldn’t have had my eyes opened.’’