Affirmative Masculinity for Positive Social Change: The Straight Talk Experience with Pro boy programming Susan Ajok, MPH Director of Progrms Straight Talk Foundation

A Ugandan NGO specializing in Communication for Social Change (CFSC). It uses a multi-modal approach including radio, print, and face-to-face programming STF engages adolescents aged in directed dialogues about sexual & reproductive health (SRH) & related thematic areas.

Straight Talk Foundation Started as Straight Talk Newspaper in Registered as a Non Governmental Organization in STF operates nationally in Uganda through print, electronic media and face to face communication It operates youth centers in 5 districts of Uganda Its primary audience are adolescents aged years (All categories). Parents and teachers are targeted as a secondary audience in schools and communities. STF utilizes the ecological model to guide its communication for social change work

Communication for social change using the ecological model

Why focus on adolescents? Adolescence is a time of vulnerability to risk behaviors, which have lifelong consequences. Ugandan adolescents, especially girls and adolescents affected by conflict, are poorly equipped/supported to negotiate this life stage safely Uganda has a youthful age structure

Ecological = Environment Behaviour is not up to an individual alone. So STF also addresses the environment. Communication for social change encourages critical thinking and dialogue

“Conversations” not messages STF conducts many different “conversations” in many languages through print, radio and face-to-face. And it is not just any “conversation”

Print: 9 million papers/year Young Talk 10-14s; Straight Talk s; ST in 5 Ugandan languages for the out-of-school

Weekly half-hour shows on 50 stations: Youth shows in 17 languages; Parent shows in 9 languages RADIO

-Youth centers -Teacher trainings -Peer education - Straight Talk club support - Parent dialogues -Village fairs Face-to-face communication

“Conversations about true life stories” Content for radio and print collected in an interactive process with audience. So content remains relevant and constantly evolving.

Why Boys ? Boys in Uganda are under intense pressure to start sex early In its 15 years of experience, STF has learned a lot about the nuances of gender, masculinity, and sexual health in Uganda. STF therefore promotes gender balance and safe sexual dynamics amongst Ugandan adolescents.

Boys: Trends and facts Most HIV programming for young people does not differentiate between sexes or focuses on girls Boys are expected to make their own way in the world, boys may be more worried about the future and have to struggle more to achieve what society expects of them than girls Boys are socialized to take risks and prove their manhood through sex often with many partners

Boys: Trends and facts Boys have more privileges and power over girls, however they are expected to be tough and yet life can be brutal for them. Many African males can not be the providers they thought they would be, while almost all girls can fulfill their roles as mothers “Girls assume that they are getting married to a man who has planned for the future ” Male 15 years “There are many problems when you are out of school, if you are not serious, you may end up stealing ” Male 13 years

Why Boys? Traditionally STF focused more on girls, but has recently realized a need to be “pro-boy”— empowering boys to embrace affirmative masculinity by engaging rather than ostracizing them

Boys in Uganda Boys in Uganda are under intense pressure to start sex early and are rarely prepared for consequences, STF works closely with boys to explore their sexual vulnerabilities as boys and the negative gender roles they often accept as inevitable.

Our work with boys STF fosters talk through various channels to engage boys in reflecting upon these issues and redefining their perceived roles as Ugandan males. STF is alert to the culture of the lives of boys and their diversity

Lessons learned Evaluations demonstrate that this dialogue-based approach has a direct and positive impact on boys’ awareness about sex, sexuality, gender roles, and their future lives as men, and leads to safer sexual and gender-based attitudes & practices.

Exposure to STF is healthy -Adolescents who are exposed to STF materials have greater reproductive health knowledge, are much more likely to talk about growing up issues with their parents; -Adolescents who are exposed to STF are 3-4 times more likely to have undergone HCT; and are more positive about condoms – than non- exposed adolescents, after controlling for schooling, age, access to media. Population Council 2007

Young males exposed to STF Only 40% as likely to have started sex. Three times more likely to resume abstaining if they had started sex. 20 times more likely to consider their current relationship serious – than non- exposed boys. Population Council 2007

Lessons learned By being pro-boy, STF empowers boys as agents of positive social change in areas typically approached by focusing on girls. The importance and effectiveness of affirmative masculinity is seen clearly in the STF experience, and should inform programming in similar contexts. We see a change in the attitude of boys towards girls. Young men can think very intensely about the differences in the lives of males and females

Recommendations for future programming Good HIV and sexual health work needs to actively combat misconceptions about masculinity There is need to generate conversations on ideas such as “virginity is for boys” and “erections do not mean sex eg girls are property and exist to serve men Boys need help to see girls as more than sex objects Boys need huge support to unlearn the cultural norms acquired in childhood eg girls are property and exist to serve men

Recommendations for future programs Work with boys needs to be based on their true stories; it helps us not to blame them It is important to work with important people in the lives of boys eg females and community members Engage boys more actively, watch out and plan for them.

Thank you