HIGHLIGHTING THE PRESSURES ON MEN IN THE MENA
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), cultural and religious expectations can create major challenges for men as well as women. As International Men’s Day is marked on 19 November, SAT-7 is seeking to stimulate healthy conversation among men in the MENA through special episodes and video campaigns.
Addressing men and the cultural challenges they face is a key part of SAT-7’s Gender Equality and Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) project. “To have a more equal society, and dignity for all, you have to talk to women and men, young and old,” explains project lead Maggie Morgan. Through the project’s flagship program Today Not Tomorrow on SAT-7 ARABIC and social media campaigns, she has been working to rewrite damaging narratives regarding women for two years now. But she knows that addressing men’s issues is highly important too. “When it comes to FoRB, religious texts can be used to oppress women, but they can also be used to put more pressure on men,” she says.
Men in the MENA, as in many other parts of the world, often face unhealthy pressure stemming from religious and cultural beliefs. This can lead to damaging outcomes like the rejection of emotions, the pursuit of unsuitable lines of work, and the development of bad habits in social groups.
Over recent weeks, the Gender Equality and FoRB project has been highlighting these issues through two video campaigns on social media and a special episode of Today Not Tomorrow.
CHANGING MISCONCEPTIONS
The first video campaign, titled Men Have Rights Too, has been making an impact with four short videos attracting over 12 million views. One highlighted how boys and men are often told not to cry, but that they should have the right to express their feelings without being shamed.
“An apology to every man who was told when he was young, ‘Men don’t cry,’” says the video voiceover. “Crying is not a weakness. Every human being has feelings.”
The second video campaign, titled Toxic Masculinity, seeks to stimulate discussion around what it means to be a man, while challenging some all-too-common behaviours among peer groups in the region, such as watching pornography and talking about women in a degrading way.
In response to comments and debates about the videos online, an episode of Today Not Tomorrow considered different perspectives on manhood with special guest Adel Botros, founder of Adam, an organisation that serves families by developing men’s sense of responsibility and spirituality.
“Men have been victims of society, raised to meet certain standards, otherwise they are not classified as men,” said Adel. Live calls were taken from viewers discussing cultural expectations and the true nature of manhood.
“Not only do we need to change the misconceptions of men, but also of women about the roles of men,” one viewer commented, “because we [as women] are also influenced by society in our view of men, and consequently in our choices of marriage partners.”
MEN’S SILENT PAIN
Meanwhile on SAT-7 PARS, a special episode of Insiders, titled “Men’s Silent Pain”, discussed trends among men that can lead to their suffering in silence. Some of the topics covered included pressure to provide for a family, mental health issues and addictions, and unwillingness to ask for help.
“I encourage both men and women, especially those in marriages, to be attentive to each other’s health,” said expert guest Dr Sharukh Makvand as he concluded the episode’s first section. “Men need to be open about their concerns and not ignore the issues they face.”
The value of a strong support network was heavily emphasised. Viewers were encouraged to develop close friendships, share their burdens with loved ones, and seek professional help when necessary. “The first step is self-awareness: understanding your own health and thoughts to determine what kind of help you need,” said Sharuk. “Then, seek an outside perspective to compare with your own perceptions. This can help you assess if you’re making unhealthy decisions and identify steps towards improvement.”