As the world commemorated Father’s Day at the weekend, stakeholders have attributed Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across West African countries to the rigid cultural expectations from boys and men.

According to them, men are also victims of patriarchy, as many grew up with the knowledge that crying signifies weakness; to earn respect, one must dominate, or that love means being controlled, and that silence means strength.

They stressed that it was time to change the narrative by redefining power to mean protection instead of oppression, saying that leadership means service and not silence, and that masculinity means being loving, expressive, supportive and still being respected.

The Country Director of ActionAid, Andrew Mamedu, while speaking at the West African convening on Positive Masculinity, organised by ActionAid Nigeria, with the support of the Ford Foundation, yesterday, in Abuja, said research had consistently shown that these rigid expectations of boys and men were significant barriers to gender equality.

He said that the United Nations women, among other scholars, had linked harmful masculinity to gender-based violence, school dropouts, depression, and substance abuse.

Mamedu noted that the cultural and social norms in most African communities continue to encourage men and boys to display traits, such as dominance, aggression, and emotional suppression, saying that although these traits are seen as signs of strength, but the truth is that they frequently lead to insecurity, broken relationships, poor health, and violence, especially against women and girls.

He said that an Africa rooted in peace, equity, and inclusive development could not be built on the shaky foundation of harmful masculinity.

Also, the Director of the Pan-African and New Power Advocacy Office, Dr Hussaini Abdu Hussaini Abdul, in his keynote address, stressed the need to reinvent the concept of masculinity and the prevailing conception that defines men as someone who lacks emotions.

He said that these perceptions had been promoting violence and undermining the mental health of young people.

Abdul, therefore, emphasised the need for a shift in the upbringing of children, as they must be brought up in a manner that they will respect each other, carry out similar chores and responsibilities, and be held to account.