The debate post expresses the writer’s opinions.
(Newspaper Oslo): The report from The men’s committee, which was set up by the government two years ago, is expected to be published this spring. The committee aims to investigate men’s equality challenges and propose measures to meet them.
Recent concerns about men’s equality challenges together with statistics, which show that men struggle in several areas of society, including health, work, education, crime and family life, make the report more relevant.
Two years ago, I started the podcast “Integeringsstemmen” which covers topics related to integration and equality. In the first season, I interviewed ten prominent women with a minority background about their integration journey and fight for equality.
In the next season, I spoke to men from different backgrounds from both the minority and the majority population, to get their views on equality, and among the guests were Men’s Committee chairman Claus Jervell and member Are Saastad.
Vulnerable to honor practices
I want an equality policy that takes a holistic societal perspective and takes everyone into consideration, regardless of gender. Unfortunately, this policy has not always promoted the independence of minority women, although it has strengthened our legal protection and partially freed us from the culture of honor.
In this process, the authorities have underestimated that the most effective antidote to a culture of honor and patriarchy is economic independence.
Today, many women are out of work due to lack of qualifications or face racist and discriminatory barriers, making them vulnerable to honor practices.
When men from a well-established, egalitarian and secular society express concern that equality policy does not take their needs into account, what about men with minority backgrounds who come from societies characterized by hierarchy and patriarchy, where men have traditionally held a dominant position with power, status and respect?
Are they themselves confronted with equality challenges, or are they primarily seen as an equality problem for minority women?
Men from minority backgrounds I have met express frustration that the system does not always work in their favour.
With a humorous twist, they point out that women are highly valued in Norway, while men feel at the bottom of the ladder. This reflects their subjective experience, especially based on cultures where men have traditionally had dominance.
Important to include all perspectives
The men’s committee’s work must take into account the minority perspective when exploring the areas of education, working life and family, especially considering the great variation among Norway’s population.
Men with an immigrant background are already overrepresented in terms of unemployment, dropping out of education and crime.
When men can no longer fulfill their role as the family’s primary financial contributor, many experience a decline in status and feel violated. This results in challenges within family life, especially related to traditional gender roles. Poor integration into society and unachieved ambitions contribute to family problems, where children are often the ones who suffer the most.
In today’s discussion about equality, it is important to include all perspectives, including men from minority backgrounds. Effective measures require an understanding of the challenges faced by Norwegian and minority men.
The committee should have the competence to recognize and handle the diversity among Norwegian men, and identify suitable solutions for minority men’s unique challenges.
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#Minority #men #forgotten #fight #equality
