Issues of poverty, gender inequalities and health intersect, reinforce and perpetuate each other constructing complex barriers to the empowerment of women and girls. The way in which these issues manifest as economic inequalities, HIV infection and intimate partner violence are of significant concern in the South African context.

What do we know about men’s practices and attitudes related to gender equality and work? What are men’s experiences of work? What are men and women’s reactions to unemployment? The social relations of work and (un)employment are deeply interconnected with gender relations.

This report shares household survey findings from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) carried out with men and women aged18-59 in predominantly urban contexts across Brazil, Chile, Croatia, India, Mexico and Rwanda.

Can the benefits of women’s economic empowerment be enhanced through engaging men to achieve gender equitable relations at the household level?  Research in Rwanda by CARE and Instituto Promundo has shown that discriminatory gender roles influence the way in which the benefits of a Village Savings and Loans scheme are used, with financial decision-making within the household still being dominated by men. A complex picture emerged in relation to women’s income and experiences of gender-based violence, with one of the main sources of conflict relating to money.

What is the role of migration in changing gender norms, and how is it hindering or helping gender equality? This collection of essays aims to help us understand the experience of migration on livelihoods, and the way in which migration is affecting gender relations and equity.

Are men evolving in their practices and attitudes related to gender equality? Changes in gender attitudes do seem to be happening as younger men and men with higher levels of education show more gender equitable attitudes and practices. The evidence is presented in this report summarizes the initial, comparative analysis of The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES). IMAGES is a comprehensive household questionnaire that surveyed men’s attitudes and practices – along with women’s opinions and reports of men’s practices – on topics related to gender equality.