Man Enough? Measuring Masculine Norms to Promote Women’s Empowerment

This publication, part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and development (OECD) Social Institutions and Gender Index series, analyses norms of restrictive masculinities, which are often rigid and promote inflexible notions and expectations of what it means to be a ‘real’ man.

The report identifies ten norms of restrictive masculinities that produce direct consequences for women’s and girls’ empowerment and well-being across the economic, political and private spheres. For example, to be the breadwinner and financially dominant, work ‘manly’ jobs and not to do domestic work, considering it as generally ‘women’s work’.

In contrast, other masculinities, defined in the publication as ‘gender-equitable masculinities’, present a more flexible alternative, permitting men to take on diverse roles and behaviours, while not limiting women’s agency.

Equipped with the knowledge provided by this paper, the policy makers can create campaigns, national programmes and legal changes to address the masculine norms and promote gender-equitable masculinities.

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