IMAGES MENA

Key Findings from theInternational Men and Gender Equality Survey Middle East and North AfricaEgypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine

Presented by Shereen El Feki 

Co‐Principal Investigator, IMAGES MENA 

Promundo

Masculinities in MENA: Same old song or brand new tune?

• Founded in 1997 in Rio de Janeiro

• NGO focused on engaging men and boys in gender equality 

• Offices in Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo,Portugal and USA

• Research to informpractices

• Advocacy with gov• Community projec

countries in the Gl• Wide array of inte

partners and fund

What is Promundo?

3

IMAGESGlobal

Created in 2008 by Promundo and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

Multi-year, multi-country initiative to understand men’s and women’s gendered attitudes and behaviors

Household survey and companion qualitative research

To date, IMAGES and IMAGES-inspired studies conducted in > 30 countries with >60,000 respondents

IMAGESGlobal

Created in 2008 by Promundo and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) 

Multi‐year, multi‐country initiative to understand men’s and women’s gendered attitudes and behaviors

Household survey and companion qualitative research

To date, IMAGES and IMAGES‐inspired studies conducted in > 30 countries with >60,000 respondents

IMAGES MENAOverview

SCOPE: Approximately 10,000 interviews in 2016-2017 OVERALL TOPIC: Where are men on gender equality and what

are their gender-related stresses and realities? CONSULTATION: governments, UN Women, local researchers,

local activists, women’s rights organizations ADAPTATION: Questionnaire pre-tested and translated into local

Arabic dialects (+French in Morocco) ADVOCACY: National and regional consultations to turn results

into new actions FUNDERS: UN Women, SIDA, US Institute of Peace, BUGIS (Netherlands), 

Arcus Foundation, Vital Voices

Sample:Who was surveyed?

Sample Size Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Men (18‐59 years old) 1380 1200 1050 1200

Women (18‐59 years old) 1402 1200 1136 1199

TOTAL 2782 2400 2186 2399

Response Rate 99.8% 89.6% 99.7% ~100%

Methodology:How was the survey conducted?

• Data collected April 2016 – March 2017

• Questionnaire translated/back‐translated into local Arabic dialects 

• Additional topics added by local research partners (e.g. FGM in Egypt, effects of occupation in Palestine, effects of conflict in Lebanon; marriage and divorce; migration; honour and honour killing; sexual harassment/assault in public spaces)

• Nationally representative samples in Lebanon and Palestine; 5 urban/rural governorates in Egypt; Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region in Morocco

• Same‐sex interviewers; one respondent per household

• Handheld computer devices in Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon; paper questionnaires in Palestine

• Accompanied by qualitative research (topics vary according to country)

The Big Questions: IMAGES MENA

PATHWAYS TO EQUALITY: Men’s and women’s support for gender equality in public and private life

HOUSEHOLD RELATIONS: Gender equality at home, in childhood and adulthood

VIOLENCE: Drivers and disrupters of gender-based violence in public and private spaces

HEALTH: Health and well-being

STRESS: Displacement, conflict and economic stress

Men under pressure?Part 1:

No Work, No Manhood?Work‐related stress  

40

22

43

54

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Rates of work‐related stress

Percentage of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with selected statements about his/her work and financial situation, IMAGES MENA 

Work-stress composite includes the following questions:

Frequently stressed or depressed because of lack of work or income

Sometimes feels ashamed to face family because of lack of work or income

Worries about providing family with daily necessities

Mental HealthDepressive symptoms

28 26 27

38

5249

35

51

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Rates of depression

MEN

WOMEN

Percentage of respondents who scored above depression screening threshold on the 20‐item CESD‐R depression scale, IMAGES MENA 2016

LEBANON: Fear and Insecurity

“A man who can’t fulfill his role as a provider loses his value to society. People see us as weak and powerless; I’m seen as less of a man.”

Syrian man, Bar Elias‐Lebanon

“I don’t believe that there’s a definition to what a man is any more. I mean, I would understand that back in Syria, but things have changed and women work now and they take responsibility. Men started to rely on women, actually. We are now the backbone of the family.”

Syrian woman, Tripoli‐Lebanon

Moving Toward Equality?Part 2:

Gender Equality: Achievable?Attitudes toward gender equality

Percentage of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with selected statements about gender equality, IMAGES MENA 2016

52

60

35

17

50 4841

19

32

65

24

10

5954

35

18

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

The idea that men and women areequal is not part of our traditions and

culture

More rights for women mean thatmen lose out

EgyptMoroccoLebanonPalestine

Women Changing Roles?Female education and employment 

35

16

31

75

9888

22

8

55

89

73 71

32

12

7986

57

31

40

18

52

73

83

70

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

If resources are scarce, it ismore important to educate

sons than daughters

A married woman shouldhave the same right to work

outside the home as herhusband

When work opportunitiesare scarce, men should

have access to jobs beforewomen

Egypt

Morocco

Lebanon

Palestine

Percentage respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with selected statements about women's education and employment, IMAGES MENA 2016

Women in Politics

29

6867

91

75

88

42

59

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Men WomenThere should be more women in positions of political authority

57

40

2922

31

16

59

41

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Men WomenWomen should leave politics 

to men

77

8982

94

77

92

63

81

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Men WomenA woman with the same qualifications 

can do as good a job as a man

Egypt

Morocco

Lebanon

Palestine

Percentage respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with selected statements about women's political engagement, IMAGES MENA 2016

Attitudes Toward Gender Equality: Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale

GEM Scale Questions Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

A woman’s most important role is to take care of the home and cook for the family

MEN 87 72 59 80

WOMEN 77 49 46 59

A man should have the final word about decisions in the home

MEN 90 71 52 80

WOMEN 59 47 31 48

There are times when a woman deserves to be beatenMEN 53 38 21 34

WOMEN 33 21 5 26

A woman should tolerate violence to keep the family together

MEN 90 62 26 63

WOMEN 71 46 14 50

It’s a man’s duty to exercise guardianship over his female relatives

MEN 78 77 35 82

WOMEN 79 56 45 64

Which Men are More Gender Equitable?

More educated men (all four countries)Urban men (Egypt, Morocco)Wealthier men (Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine)Men with involved fathers (Egypt, Lebanon,

Palestine)Men with more educated mothers (all four countries)Younger men? Not so …..

Fatherhood:Support for paternity leave

Percentage of ever-married male respondents, IMAGES MENA 2016

10

38

19 1913

3734

52

45

8083

62

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Childcare and domestic workshameful for men

Took time off work at birth ofyoungest child

Support paid paternity leave

MOROCCO: Women in Public Life

“To be honest, it’s rare to find a real man; the man has lost his masculinity with all these new laws that give more advantages and freedom to women.”

Man, in his 20s, student, Khémisset‐Morocco

“Honestly, the rhetoric on the rights of women, nothing like that exists. It’s only talk. In Moroccan families and households, we still live by tradition, we have a culture that can’t be remade in a moment. Even if a woman is educated, with a position, she worships the idea of masculinity and gravitates towards serving the man.”

Woman, 30 years old, teacher, Rabat‐Morocco

Violence and controlPart 3:

Roots of Violence: ChildhoodPhysical violence in the home 

65

79

56 6260

74

3546

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

MEN

WOMEN

Percentage of respondents aged 18 to 59 who experienced at least one of three acts of physical violence at home before the age of 18, IMAGES MENA 2016

Men in Charge?Spousal control

100 98 95 10099 9583 97

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Man exerts some form of spousal control

MEN

WOMEN

Percentage of ever-married respondents who reported husband exerts at least one forms of control over relationship with his/her spouse, IMAGES MENA 2016

~10% - 45%

The proportion of men in IMAGES-MENA who report ever using physical violence against a current or former spouseranges from:

Which men used physical violence against their wives? Men who witnessed violence in homes growing up Men with lower educational levels Men with less gender equitable attitudes

Gender‐Based Violence : Intimate Partner (Spousal) Violence (ever)

45

168

17

44

26

1021

0

20

40

60

80

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Physical IPV

Men

Women

82

51

2332

6661

27

40

0

20

40

60

80

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Emotional IPV

Men

Women

Percentage of ever‐married respondents who reported perpetrating/experiencing at least one form of spousal physical/emotional violence, IMAGES MENA 2016

1

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1 Should we split into 2 slides?Communications Intern; 2017-05-16

Drivers of Men’s Perpetration of Multiple Types of Spou

*Specific findings vary by country

Witnessing intimate partner violence in childhood home

Less equitable attitudes (except for sexual violence) Lower levels of education Less wealthy

Sexual Harassment:Street‐based violence against women

65

53

3137

6063

57

40

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Egypt Morocco Lebanon Palestine

Sexual/Street Harassment

MEN'S PERPETRATION

WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE

Percentage of men who have committed selected acts of sexual harassment/assault against women, and women who have experienced such acts in public spaces, lifetime rates, IMAGES MENA 2016

Drivers of Street‐Based Sexual Harassment: Men’s perpetration

Witnessing or experiencing physical violence in childhood home(all four countries)

Younger unmarried men (all four countries)Men with secondary education and higher income

(in two countries)

“My husband beat me. When I complained to his family, they said, ’What do you expect? Do you want him to take his frustration out on people in the street or in his home? You should tolerate your husband.’

I stayed three months [with my mother], until [my husband] realized his mistake and understood that by beating me, he had lost his wife and children. But even then, when his mother came to visit, she tried to convince him that I was wrong. She expects me to be a sponge that soaks up his anger and frustration.”

Woman, 27 years old, Cairo

Summary of Factors Associated with Men’s Street‐Based Sexual Harassment: 

Witnessing and/or experiencing physical violence in childhood home all 4 countries (in multi-variateanalysis)

Younger, unmarried menMen with secondary education and higher income (in

2 countries)

HYPOTHESIS: Frustration and entitlement among young men with some education, and resistance by young men to women’s empowerment, particularly in paid workforce seem to drive street sexual harassment

ConclusionsPart 4:

Current Trends

Men at work—the centrality of breadwinning to men’s and women’s definitions of manhood

Like father, like son—the importance of fatherhood in shaping and shifting attitudes and practices, for better or worse

Fairer sex?—on certain issues, women’s attitudes often as, or more conservative than, those of men

Youth gap—younger men often as or more conservative than elders; young women more open than older generations

Current Trends

Gap between attitudes and actions—often circumstances (ie, migration, displacement), rather than choice shift men’s practices

Public vs. private—translating laws and policies into positive change in daily life

Crisis or crossroads of masculinity—both men and women feel that old models no longer fit the present but are uncertain of the future

Thank youFor more information, visit www.imagesmena.org

Data into Action

Thank youFor more information, visit www.imagesmena.org