Exploration of Metaperceptions Held by Men Enrolled in Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre Programme, Correlates Behaviours and Coping Strategies

Abstract

BackgroundMen participating in the Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC) programme,designed to challenge negative masculinity, have exhibited positive shifts inhousehold responsibilities and collaborative decision-making with their wives.However, little was known about how these men believe non-enrolled men perceivethem.AimThe study aimed to explore the metaperceptions of enrolled men regarding howthey are perceived by other men in their community and it investigated strategiesemployed to overcome these metaperceptions.MethodUsing a qualitative approach, 15 men involved in the RWAMREC programme,selected based on their completion of a couples' curriculum on domestic violenceusing a gender transformation approach, were interviewed.ResultsThe findings indicated that men engaging in traditionally feminine tasks facedsocietal stigma, being viewed as bewitched or not real men. Despite thesechallenges, many expressed gratitude for the positive impact on family dynamics.The majority of enrolled males were criticized and regarded as not embodying truemasculinity; nonetheless, some concealed their involvement in certain tasks, anda few discontinued providing care after the being aggressed by the men who triedto protect their threatened masculinity.ConclusionThe study concludes that the metaperceptions and defensive reactions of menprotecting their threatened manhood may hinder the programme's goal offostering positive masculinity adoption. To sustain the intervention across diverseorganizations, positive masculinity promotion has to be included in the packageprovided to friends of family volunteers.Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2024;7(1):46-62