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Experts engage to change mindsets against gender stereotypes in North America
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, opened the session and presented UNESCO’s new Flagship Programme against Gender Stereotypes. She emphasized its significance to counter the biases and prejudice that threaten women and girls but also affects boys, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put women at the forefront of global efforts.
The consultation welcomed participants from across the world, including among others: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.
It was moderated by Tim Shand, Co-founder and Director of ShandClarke Consulting Ltd, expert in women’s empowerment, masculinities, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and consultant for UNESCO’s new Flagship.
Catherine Feingold (Director of the International Department, AFL-CIO) highlighted how the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated existing insecurities among vulnerable groups, and noted its disproportionate economic impacts on Black and Latina women and Native American communities. Such precarious conditions continue to suppress the reporting of harassment and assault, reflecting the power imbalance that exists in workplaces across the region. In this regard, she cited a need for policy transformation including development of national standards for the protection of workers and the creation of a USA task force on domestic equity.
Durba Mitra (Assistant Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality, Harvard University) stressed that poor women of color in the USA are confronted by an extraordinarily violent period, including as a consequence of the crisis, while noting the question of racism as central to addressing gender stereotyping.
Mishuana Goeman (Professor of Gender Studies and American Indian Studies IDP, UCLA; Special Advisor to the Chancellor on Native American and Indigenous Affair) drew particular attention to the structural and systemic racism that Native People continue to face and how they are severely impacted by white supremacy, regarding it as among the most prominent ways of endangering Native women and girls.
Julie Goldscheid (Professor of Law, CUNY Law School) underscored the significance of analyzing the history of structural and historic racism to understand the relationship between gender-based violence and stereotypes. She stressed the importance of approaches centered on addressing what survivors want beyond society’s assumptions, which center mainly on the punishment of perpetrators. She highlighted the potential of public health framing and modeling, and of working with young men and boys in dismantling prevalent ideas on gender roles, noting accountability and prevention as key.
Humberto Carolo (Executive Director of White Ribbon, Co-Chair of the Global MenEngage Alliance) highlighted the need for a change in systems but also a transformation of individual minds and hearts. He emphasized how young boys are socialized in patriarchal cultures stemming from a history of patriarchy, colonization, racism, and oppression. He emphasized how men must understand their privilege and its impact on individuals, communities and societies as a whole, and how societies must consider the role of men and boys not just as perpetrators of inequality but also as potential allies and agents of change.
As part of UNESCO’s Flagship Programme against Gender Stereotypes, this is the first in a series of six regional expert consultations that aim to take stock of the current challenges and solutions and draw a roadmap for UNESCO’s upcoming efforts to address the issue of gender stereotyping. This series targets decision-makers, the academic and scientific communities, NGO communities, international civil society, media and private sector.
