“We Learn How to Become Good Men”: Working with Male Allies to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls in Urban Informal Settlements in Mumbai, India

The document explores the role of engaging men as allies in preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) within the urban informal settlements of Mumbai, India. The study is based on an intervention led by SNEHA, which aimed to transform men’s attitudes and behaviors towards gender equity. By participating in group sessions, men learned about gender dynamics, masculinity, and violence, gaining awareness and skills to reflect on their roles and responsibilities. The intervention fostered personal transformation among male participants, who reported changes in their understanding of relationships, consent, and the need for gender equity.

However, the study also highlights the limitations of such interventions. While men showed progress in individual awareness, they often failed to address the structural and systemic nature of patriarchy and violence. Many participants maintained traditional gender norms, showcasing an ambivalence in redefining masculinity. The program created private spaces for men to discuss sensitive issues, yet these spaces often reinforced individual-level changes rather than community-wide transformations.

The research underscores the importance of contextual and relational approaches when engaging men in anti-violence work. It calls for interventions to be rooted in the lived realities of participants while ensuring accountability towards women and the broader community. This includes bridging the gap between private learning spaces and public action, addressing material and socio-economic constraints, and recognizing the emotional labor historically carried out by women in the fight against gender-based violence.