Paneldebat: Gender socialization – a root cause of gender-based violence? Perspectives from Denmark and North Africa (København)

About the event

 

How can we eliminate gender-based violence? If you ask many researchers and practitioners, they will answer that you must stop the spiral of violence before it even begins. And to do so you have to address gender socialization early on, by reaching out to children and adolescents. Gender-based violence is caused by unequal power structures between genders which are based on stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity.

All over the world, certain norms about gender prevail and are influencing the way we “do gender”. When we grow up, these norms are internalized in order to adapt to the society we live in. This process of gender socialization effects the choices we make in life and the structural barriers we encounter. Boys are told to be strong and not to cry, while girls learn to be quiet and emotional. Boys learn to play violent games, while girls learn to play with dolls. Boys and girls are treated differently based on their gender and therefore do not get the same opportunities in life.

Stereotypical gender roles can also lead to a lack of understanding between genders and unhealthy intimate relationships. In the worst case, it can be a cause of gender-based discrimination and violence. Gender socialization is often defined as one of the root causes of gender-based violence.

Therefore, it is important to address gender norms and unequal power structures early in life, e.g. by comprehensive gender education in schools. We have invited researchers and practitioners/activists from Denmark, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia to share their experiences and best practices on how to fight gender-based violence by addressing gender socialization.

The event is free of charge and will be held in English.

The event is organized by the Women’s Council in Denmark (Kvinderådet) and Danner. It is funded by CISU (Civil Society in Development) and KVINFO’s gender equality programme under the Danish Arab Partnership Programme.

About the speakers

Cecilie Nørgaard is the director of Mangfold, a Danish organization that integrates research-based gender perspectives in education and culture. She is an educational and gender sociologist and a former school teacher. Cecilie communicates knowledge about gender and diversity in both artistic and scientific ways, among other things for education. The purpose is to contribute to a world in which gender does not determine or limit the individual’s life and where there is room for diversity and individuality. Cecilie’s expertise is to combine theory and practice through the development of strategic ideas and solutions as a consultant, author and lecturer. Cecilie works both on projects in Denmark, the Nordic countries and the EU, and is also in the board of PLAN Denmark.

Amel Fahmy is the managing director of Tadwein Gender Research Center in Egypt. She worked in the field of sexual reproductive health for the past twenty years. Amel’s work focused on adolescent reproductive health, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment. She has worked in different capacities at several UN agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA and has co-founded worldwide known nonprofit entities such as INTACT and HarassMap. Over the past five years, Amel has been focusing her efforts to advance knowledge production and research on GBV in Egypt and has been working extensively on issue of gender and ICT. Amel is an anthropologist with an MA in Gender Studies from the American University in Cairo (AUC).

Mouna Echemmakh leads the organization Lddf-Injad in Morocco, which runs a shelter and several counseling centers for women victims of violence. She coordinates trainings for youth in schools and youth centres in Morocco to raise awareness about gender equality, women’s rights and gender-based violence. She also coordinates a network of shelters throughout the country that creates public awareness about the gender-based power structures causing violence against women. Lddf-Injad is part of a larger feminist federation in Morocco called La Fédération de la Ligue des Droits des Femmes (FLDF).

Baha eddine Somii is a medical student and social activist from Tunisia. He has been an activist since the age of 18 with a steadfast belief in the Tunisian revolution and its objectives. Baha has been engaged in NGOs working in different fields, e.g. youth empowerment, medical issues, social problems and gender-based violence. He has worked on a national campaign called “Speak Up, you are not alone” which aims to combat sexual harassment in public transport and a conference called ‘Women X’ about gender equality in Tunisia.

Moderator: Katrine Legarth, volunteer mentor at Project Q-Værk and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Purina Petcare.

LOCATION: The event will be held at the stage in Warehouse9 (Halmtorvet 11A-F) and is part of Talk Town 2019 which will be held at Onkel Dannys Plads in Copenhagen.

The event is organized by the Women’s Council in Denmark (Kvinderådet) and Danner. It is funded by CISU (Civil Society in Development) and KVINFO’s gender equality programme under the Danish Arab Partnership Programm (DAPP).

About Talk Town

Talk Town takes place May 9th – 11th 2019 at Onkel Dannys Plads!

The festival’s purpose is to create a platform for democratic debate about gender, equality and feminism. Talk Town presents a wide variety of events each year: debates, workshops, talks, films, concerts, theater and art. The festival provides scope for conversations that converge and diverge, for opinions that align and clash, but which all point in the same direction; equality. The festival is free and open for all.

Read more at www.talktown.dk and follow Talk Town on Instagram: @talktown

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