Hey; big man tings! Want to join me, in a little conversation about 'masculinities'? That's always an interesting and contentious topic, right? I want to try stirring the interest and probably kicking off the contention, by asking if we can talk about masculinities without talking about issues like violence.

What do you think? Can a discussion about men or masculinities happen without the introduction of terms like 'gender-based violence' or 'violence against women'? But maybe I'm getting too far too fast. Puuuul up selector!

OK, level! Maybe I should start by looking at what we mean by masculinities. You'll notice that I pluralise the word, because there are various different meanings and manifestations of masculinity. So how do you define it? For the purposes of this little rap I`ll paraphrase a definition borrowed from eminent academic Dr Linden Lewis: 'masculinity is a cultural expression of how man understands himself and his relationship to women and other men'.

Well hear this. During a recent discussion on Caribbean masculinity, I learnt about an apparently old but re-emerging practice where men attach metal balls to their penis head before engaging in sex, presumably to ensure that they inflict 'maximum agony' on their women. I shudder at the idea, but I mention this occurrence in relation to Linden Lewis's definition. Are the young men who try these bizarre things culturally expressing their understanding of masculinity? If so, what do they understand about masculinity? That it's about sexual power and sexual performance; which happens to be about pain and punishment?

beautiful spice island

One thing this clearly tells me is that the Caribbean masculinities conversation has to continue. And I had the privilege of being in Grenada - the beautiful spice island last week, participating in one level of this very vital discussion. I was there as a member of the evolving Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN) initiative. The occasion was a three-day workshop exploring 'Masculinities, Gender Equality and Development in the Caribbean'.

Leaders from governmental gender machineries in the Caribbean like the various departments of gender and development, or women's affairs were in attendance along with representatives of international partners such as the World Bank, United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Development Fund for Women. There were also academics like Dr Lewis from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and Dr Gabrielle Hosien from UWI St Augustine campus, both of whom have done scholarly writings on the subject.

Some serious sharing, analysis and debates ensued and I'll be operating like an old fridge in this matter - mi nah keep nothing too long; so rest assured that in time, I`ll let you in on the dialogue. I can tell you this now though. That network called CariMAN is poised to play a really pivotal role in creating more space for men to participate in the talk and get involved in action on masculinities and gender equality. And CariMAN is growing. This very evening, three Caribbean men now living in Canada, will meet to look at starting a North American chapter. Yeah man, some interesting, and encouraging things are happening. But challenges also exist.

challenge

If we're genuinely interested in gender equality, one challenge is finding ways to convince some sceptics of the necessary work which needs to happen with and for men and boys, doesn't have to result in a removal of focus on, or the diversion of available resources from the work which still needs to happen with and for girls and women.

Another challenge is getting the wider public; the men at work, in the streets, and youth on the corner, engaged in the ongoing conversation. Yeah man, that's why I'm sharing this.

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