Hegemonic masculinity has been recognized as contributing to the perpetration of different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Abandoning hegemonic masculinities and promoting positive masculinities are both strategies used by interventions that foreground a “gender-transformative approach.” Preventing GBV among young people could be strengthened by engaging young men. In this article, we aim to systematically review the primary characteristics, methodological quality, and results of published evaluation studies of educational interventions that aim to prevent different forms of GBV through addressing hegemonic masculinities among young people.
Main body:
We conducted a systematic review of available literature (2008–2019) using Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, the CINAHL Complete Database, and ERIC as well as Google scholar. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication was used for data extraction, and the quality of the selected studies was analyzed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. More than half of the studies were conducted in Africa (n = 10/15) and many were randomized controlled trials (n = 8/15). Most of the studies with quantitative and qualitative methodologies (n = 12/15) reported a decrease in physical GBV and/or sexual violence perpetration/victimization (n = 6/15). Longitudinal studies reported consistent results over time.
Conclusions:
Our results highlight the importance of using a gender-transformative approach in educational interventions to engage young people in critical thinking about hegemonic masculinity and to prevent GBV.
AmorósC. (2005). La gran diferencia y sus pequeñas consecuencias para las luchas de las mujeres. Editorial Cátedra.
2.
AshburnK.KernerB.OjamugeD.LungdrenR. (2016). Evaluation of the Responsible, Engaged, and Loving (REAL) fathers initiative on physical child punishment and intimate partner violence in Northern Uganda. Prevention Science, 18(7), 854–864.
3.
BarkerG.RicardoC.NascimentoM. (2007). Engaging men and boys to transform gender-based health inequities: Is there evidence of impact?World Health Organization/Institute Promundo.
4.
CaseyE.CarlsonJ.Two BullsS.YagerA. (2016). Gender transformative approaches to engaging men in gender-based violence prevention: A review and conceptual model. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 19(2), 231–246.
5.
ConnellR. W. (2002). On hegemonic masculinity and violence: Response to Jefferson and Hall. Theoretical Criminology, 6(1), 89–99.
6.
ConnellR. W.MesserschmidtJ. W. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859.
7.
De la RueL.PolaninJ.EspelageD.PigottT. (2014). School-based interventions to reduce dating and sexual violence: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 7, 5–104.
8.
DoyleK.LevtovR. G.BarkerG.BastianG. G.BingenheimerJ. B.KzimbayaS.NzabonimpaA.PulerwitzJ.SayinzogaF.SharmaV.ShattuckD. (2018). Gender-transformative Bandebereho couples’ intervention to promote male engagement in reproductive and maternal health and violence prevention in Rwanda: Findings from a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 13(4), 1–17.
9.
DworkinS. L.FlemingP.ColvinC. J. (2015). The promises and limitations of gender-transformative health programming with men: Critical reflections from the field. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 17(2), 128–143.
10.
DworkinS. L.HatcherA.ColvinC.PeacockD. (2013). Impact of a gender-transformative HIV and antiviolence program on gender ideologies and masculinities in two rural, South African communities. Men and Masculinities, 16(2), 181–202.
11.
DworkinS. L.Treves-KaganS.LipmanS. H. (2013). Gender-transformative Interventions to reduce HIV risks and violence with heterosexually active men: A review of the global evidence. AIDS and Behavior, 17, 2845–2863.
12.
ElliottK. (2016). Caring masculinities: Theorizing an emerging concept. Men and Masculinities, 19(3), 240–259.
13.
EversC. (2013). The media and models of masculinity. Gender, Place & Culture, 20(7), 933–934.
14.
FellmethG. L. T.HeffermanC.NurseJ.HabibulaS.SethiD. (2013). Educational and skills-based interventions for preventing relationship and dating violence in adolescents and young adults (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6. https://doi.org10.1002/14651858.CD004534.pub3
15.
FosheeA. V.ReyesH. L.GottfredsonN. C.ChangL. Y.EnnetS. T. (2013). A longitudinal examination of psychological, behavioral, academic, and relationship consequences of dating abuse victimization among a primarily rural sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(6), 723–729.
16.
FreudbergH.ContractorS.DasA.KempC. G.NevinP. E.PhadiyalA.LalJ.RaoD. (2018). Process and impact evaluation of a community gender equality intervention with young men in Rajasthan, India. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 20(11), 1214–1229.
17.
GibbsA.JewkesR.SikweyiyaY. (2017). “I tried to resist and avoid bad friends”: The role of social context in shaping the transformation of masculinities in a gender transformative and livelihood strengthening intervention in South Africa. Men and Masculinities, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X17696173
18.
GibbsA.JewkesR.SikweyiyaY.WillanS. (2014). Reconstructing masculinity? A qualitative evaluation of the stepping stones and creating futures intervention in urban informal settlements in South Africa. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 17(2), 208–222.
19.
GidyczC. A.OrchowskiL. M.BerkowitzA. D. (2011). Preventing sexual aggression among college men: An evaluation of a social norms and bystander intervention program. Violence Against Women, 17(6), 720–742.
20.
GuptaA. K.SanthyaK. G. (2020). Promoting gender egalitarian norms and practices among boys in Rural India: The relative effect of intervening in early and late adolescence. Journal of Adolescence Health, 66(2), 157–165.
21.
GuptaG. R. (2000). Gender, sexuality and HIV/AIDS: The what, the why and the how. Canadian HIV/AIDS Policy & Law Review, 5(4), 86–93.
22.
GuptaG. R.OommanN.GrownCConnKHawkesS.ShawarY. R.ShiffmanJ.BuseK.MehraR.BahC. A.HeiseL.GreeneM. E.WeberA. M.HeymannJ.HayK.RajA.HenryS.KlugmanJ.DarmstadtG. L. (2019). Gender equality and gender norms: Framing the opportunities for health. Lancet Global Health, 393(10190), 2550–2562.
23.
HatcherA. M.ColvinC. J.NdlovuN.DworkinS. L. (2014). Intimate partner violence among rural South African men: Alcohol use, sexual decision-making, and partner communication. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 16(9), 1023–1039.
24.
HeardE.MutchA.FitzgeraldL. (2017). Using applied theater in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Trauma, violence and abuse, 21(1), 138–156.
25.
HigginsJ. P.AltmanD. G.GøtzscheP. C.JüniP.MoherD.OxmanA. D.SavovicJ.SchulzK. F.WeeksL.SterneJ. A., Cochrane Bias Methods Group, & Cochrane Statistical Methods Group. (2011). The Cochrane collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. British Medical Journal, 343, d5928. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5928
26.
HoffmannT. C.GlasziouP. P.BoutronI.MilneR.PereraR.MoherD.BarbourV.JohnstonM.LambS. E.Dixon-WoodsM.WyattJ. C. (2014). Better reporting of interventions: Template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) checklist and guide. British Medical Journal, 348, g1687. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g1687
27.
HossainM.ZimmermanC.KissL.AbramskyT.KoneD.Bakayoko-TopolskaM.AnnanJ.LehmannH.WattsC. (2014). Working with men to prevent intimate partner violence in a conflict-affected setting: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Côte d’Ivore. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1–13.
JewkesR.CornwallA. (1998). Stepping stones, South African adaptation. Medical Research Council.
30.
JewkesR.FloodM.LangJ. (2015). From work with men and boys to changes of social norms and reduction of inequities in gender relations: A conceptual shift in prevention of violence against women and girls. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1580–1589.
31.
JewkesR.MorrellR. (2018). Hegemonic masculinity, violence, and gender equality: Using latent class analysis to investigate the origins and correlates of differences between men. Men and Masculinities, 21(4), 547–571.
32.
JewkesR.NdunaM.LevinJ.JamaN.DunkleK.PurenA.DuvvuryN. (2008). Impact of stepping stones on incidence of HIV and HSV-2 and sexual behavior in rural South Africa: Cluster randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 7, 337–506.
33.
KågestenA.Chandra-MouliC. (2019). Gender-transformative programmes: Implications for research and action. Lancet Global Health, 8(2), 159–160.
34.
KalichmanS. C.SimbayiL. C.CloeteA.ClayfordM.AnorldsW.MxoliM.SmithG.CherryC.SheferT.CrawfordM.KalichmanM. O. (2009). Integrated gender-based violence and HIV Risk reduction intervention for South African men: Results of a quasi-experimental field trial. Prevention science, 10(3), 260–269.
35.
LangbeinL. I.FelbingerC. L. (2006). Public program evaluation: A statistical guide. M. E. Sharpe.
36.
LeesS.MarchantM.DesmondN. (2019). Addressing intimate partner violence using gender-transformative approaches at a community level in rural Tanzania: The UZIWASKA program. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519831373
37.
LevyJ. K.DarmstadtG. L.AshbyC.QuandtM.HalseyE.NagarA.GreeneM. E. (2019). Characteristics of successful programmes targeting gender inequality and restrictive gender norms for the health and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and young adults: A systematic review. Lancet Global Health, 8(2), 225–236.
LourençoR. G.FornariL. F.SantosD. L.FonsecaR. M. (2019). Community interventions related to intimate partner violence among adolescents: Scope review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagen, 72(1), 277–286.
41.
LoxtonD.Dolja-GoreX.AndersonA. E.TownsendN. (2016). Intimate partner violence adversely impacts health over 16 years and across generations: A longitudinal cohort study. PLoS One, 12(6), e0178138. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178138
42.
LundgrenR.AminA. (2015). Addressing intimate partner violence and sexual violence among adolescents: Emerging evidence of effectiveness. Journal of Adolescence Health, 56(1), 42–50.
43.
Marcos-MarcosJ.Gasch-GallénA.MateosJ. T.Álvarez-DardetC. (2020). Advancing gender equ(al)ity, lifting men’s health: Dealing with the spirit of our time. Journal of Epidemiological and Community Health, 75(1), 100–104.
44.
Marcos-MarcosJ.MateosJ. T.Gash-GallénA.Álvarez-DardetC. (2019). Men’s health across the life course: A gender relational (critical) overview. Journal of Gender Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2019.1703657
45.
MillerE.DasM.TancrediD. J.McCauleyH. L.VirataM. C.NettiksimmonsJ.O’ConnorB.GhoshS.VermaR. (2014). Evaluation of a gender-based violence prevention program for student athletes in Mumbai, India. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(4), 758–778.
46.
NegreteM. (2016). Discursos relacionados a las masculinidades y la violencia en adolescentes escolarizados de Asunción. CLACSO Editorial.
47.
O’NeilJ. M. (2008). Summarizing 25 years of research on men’s gender role conflict using the gender role conflict scale: New research paradigms and clinical implications. The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 358–445.
48.
PaceR.PluyeP.BartlettG.MacaulayA. C.SalsbergJ.JagoshJ.SellerR. (2012). Testing the reliability and efficiency of the pilot Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for systematic mixed studies review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 49(1), 47–53.
49.
PetermanA.BleckJ.PalermoT. (2015). Age and intimate partner violence: An analysis of global trends among women experiencing victimization in 30 developing countries. Journal of Adolescence Health, 57(6), 624–630.
50.
RusellL. G.ElliottJ. H.NolanM. L.LawtonP. D.ParkhillA.McLarenC. J.LavisJ. N. (2008). Sustainability science: An integrated approach for health-programme planing. Lancet Global Health, 372, 1579–1589.
51.
SalazarL. F.Vivolo-KantorA.HardinJ.BerkowitzA. (2014). A web-based sexual violence bystander intervention for male college students: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(9), 203.
52.
SalazarM.DaoudN.EdwardsC.ScanlonM.Vives-CasesC. (2020). PositivMasc: Masculinities and violence against women among young people. Identifying discourses and developing strategies for change, a mixed-method study protocol. British Medical Journal Open, 10(9), 1–7.
53.
Sanz-BarberoB.CorradiC.Otero-GarcíaL.AyalaA.Vives-CasesC. (2018). The effect of macrosocial policies on violence against women: A multilevel study in 28 European countries. International Journal of Public Health, 63(8), 901–911.
54.
Sanz-BarberoB.LópezP.BarrioG.Vives-CasesC. (2018). Intimate partner violence against young women: Prevalence and associated factors in Europe. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 72, 611–616.
55.
SemahegnA.TorpeyK.ManuA.AssefaN.TesfayeG.AnkomahA. (2019). Are interventions focused on gender-norms effective in preventing domestic violence against women in low and lower-middle income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health, 16(1), 93.
56.
SkevingtonS. M.SovetkinaE. C.GillisonF. B. (2013). A systematic review to quantitatively evaluate “Stepping Stones”: A participatory community-based HIV/AIDS prevention intervention. AIDS and Behavior, 17(3), 1025–1039.
57.
StöcklH.MarchL.PallittoC.Garcia-MorenoC. (2014). Intimate partner violence among adolescents and young women: Prevalence and associated factors in nine countries: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14, 751. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-751
58.
TorresV. M.GoicoleaI.EdinK.OhmanA. (2012). “Expanding your mind”: The process of constructing gender-equitable masculinities in young Nicaraguan men participating in reproductive health or gender training programs. Global Health Action, 5, 1. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v5i0.17262
59.
TurnerD. T.RiedelE.KobeissiL. H.KaryotakiE.García-MonteroC.SayL.CuijpersP. (2020). Psychosocial interventions for intimate partner violence in low and middle income countries: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Global Health, 10(1), 010409. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.10.010409
60.
World Health Organization. (2018). The health and well-being of men in the WHO European region: Better health through a gender approach. World Health Organization.
61.
World Health Organization and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. (2010). Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: Taking action and generating evidence. World Health Organization.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
