12 reasons we need #GenderEqualityForMen

Mar 3

Written By DAVIA: Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance

This article is reproduced from the DAVIA website, originally published on 4th March 2024 here.

The vast majority of persons support the goal of gender equality. To date, the gender equality conversation has focused almost exclusively on the concerns of women and girls. But the needs of men and boys deserve at least equal attention. Around the world, men and boys are lagging in 12 major areas:

Education

The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment’s reading tests of 15-year-olds found that girls outscored boys by an average of 30 points, with an overall mean of 487.
The World Bank reported in 2012: “Women reversed the education gap and now have higher completion rates than men for primary, secondary, and even tertiary education.” In 60 countries, more women than men are enrolled in universities (Figure 3).

Health

Lifespan gap of 5 years: Men: 68.9 years; Women: 73.9 years,
Nearly three times higher suicide rates than women: Men: 14.7/100,000 persons; Women: 5.3/100,000.

Workplace

15 times the number of occupational deaths, compared to women: Men: 6.2/100,000 workers, Women: 0.4/100,000.
Nearly twice the number of occupational injuries as women. Men: 1,443/100,000 workers, Women: 755/100,000 workers.

Homelessness

76% of homeless persons are men.

Violence

Males account for 78% of all homicide victims.
Among children 0-19 years old, boys account for 70% of all homicide victims.
Gendercide: Mass killings of civilian men.

Military Conscription

Many countries have compulsory military service only for men.
Nine countries have compulsory military conscription for both men and women. But in three of these countries — Chad, Eritrea, and Israel — men are required to serve for more time than women.

Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse

Far fewer services for male victims of domestic violence, even though men are equally likely to be DV victims.
False allegations of abuse and paternity fraud

Children

97 million boys, compared to 63 million girls, are subjected to child labor.
Sextortion: 90% of sextortion victims are males

Legal System

Extreme court biases in awards of child custody. As a result, fathers represent only 15.7% of all single parent households (Source: UN Women, page 63)
More severe treatment of men at every step of the criminal-legal process, including the treatment of persons accused of sex offenses.

Reproductive Rights

Upon becoming pregnant, a woman can choose to have the baby, get an abortion, or put the baby up for adoption. Men have none of these reproductive rights.

Extreme Weather

Males account for 79% of all deaths from lightning.
Men are 2-3 times more likely to die from extreme natural heat.
Males are more likely to die from excessive cold.
Men are more likely than women to die during famine.

Media Portrayals

Reporting and commentary about men: 69% unfavorable, 12% favorable, and 19% neutral or balanced.

The Basic Index of Gender Inequality, which measures childhood educational opportunities, healthy life expectancy, and overall life satisfaction, likewise reveals men have fallen behind women in 91 out of 134 countries. Other disparities have been documented in sex discrimination against men in hiring decisions, including for STEM positions.

These problems are occurring within the context of a broader cultural assault on men and masculinity. But funding agencies continue favor females over males by more than a three-to-one margin, according to one analysis.

For further information on these issues, and to find out about the The International Council on the Status of Men and Boys which is working to address the concerns of men and boys, please see the send half of the page here.

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