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Deconstructing masculinities to promote gender equality

The exploratory study “ Perception of masculinities among young people », conducted by Médias et Cultures in 2024 among 1,164 young people aged 15 to 25 in 5 regions of Morocco, highlights the tensions between progressivism and resistance in the perceptions and practices of masculinities in Morocco. These two dynamics, although contradictory, coexist and influence in an interdependent manner the behavior of young people in the face of societal developments.

This is what a press release from the campaign says: MANCHOUFOUCH“, launched by Médias et Cultures, ADFM, Kif Mama Kif Baba and Génération Libre, and managed to Hespress FR. According to Abdelmajid Moudni, spokesperson for the campaign and director of the Médias et Cultures association, “ 43% of young men surveyed believe that sexual harassment is caused by the behavior of women, particularly their clothing. This perception reinforces a culture that blames victims rather than perpetrators. It is urgent to act to deconstruct these preconceived ideas and to educate from an early age in the values ​​of respect and equality. ».

The results reveal the existence of areas of major tension, particularly in the family space, at school, in access and control of resources, phenomena of violence, sexuality, control over women’s bodies, public space and religion. These spheres are centers of complex influences where traditions and aspirations for change intertwine.

Faced with these results, the “Manchoufouch” campaign aims to promote more inclusive, egalitarian and non-violent masculinities. It calls for an ambitious educational reform to deconstruct gender bias within schools and in spaces of socialization, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of the social mechanisms that fuel resistance to change.

« Gender stereotypes are deeply rooted in mentalities: 60% of young men still consider that the man should control the financial resources of the family, even when the wife is the main provider. », Declares Ghizlane Mamouni, spokesperson for the campaign and president of the Kif Mama Kif Baba association.

According to the same source, the objectives of the “Manchoufouch” campaign are to inform public opinion on the issues of toxic masculinity and the fight against gender-based violence, by highlighting the negative impact of this violence on individuals. and society.

It is also a question of supporting male allies in the fight for gender equality by involving them in concrete actions and encouraging their role in the transformation of masculinity norms as well as in the deconstruction of gender stereotypes.

Furthermore, the campaign intends to collaborate with national actors to amplify research and data collection on this phenomenon, in order to better understand its mechanisms and propose solutions adapted to all levels of society, while advocating for policies public institutions that guarantee inclusive and egalitarian education. This aims to prevent gender-based violence and promote equality in schools, public spaces and the digital sphere.

In addition, the campaign “ Manchoufouch » is broken down into several concrete actions. Among them, support for the production of the video clip for the song Manchoufouch by singer Sonia Noor, an awareness spot broadcast on Hit Radio with the support of Génération Libre, a photographic campaign on the Instagram page @Manchoufouch, publications daily information on social networks as well as awareness-raising capsules created by young adolescents on the TikTok platform of @Manchoufouch.

As the title of the campaign indicates, its initiators want to encourage men and boys to question their responsibility, both on a personal and interpersonal level, and to question this culturally idealized form of masculinity which perpetuates gender inequalities. gender.

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