Frequently Asked Questions about MERGE for Equality

 

What is MERGE for Equality?

MERGE for Equality, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts, USA. MERGE works to advance the beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors that allow men and boys to be their authentic selves and embrace their role in ensuring gender equality. We do this with individuals, groups, and communities across the globe, in alliance with girls, women and all marginalized people.  In October of 2019, MERGE joined with the North American MenEngage Network (NAMEN).

 Why focus on boys and men?

Boys and men are naturally loving, life affirming and sustained by connection. However, far too often, boys and men are socialized in ways that promote strength, competitiveness, self reliance assertiveness, and stoicism, at the exclusion of qualities deemed feminine by society, such as vulnerability cooperation, collaboration, patience, and expressiveness. In fact, boys and men who fail to sufficiently conform to gender expectations are shamed, ostracized, bullied and even killed, leaving boy and men feeling the need to repeatedly and consistently prove their masculinity through their words and actions. The limitations on boys and men imposed by these gender norms lead to a host of negative outcomes, where, as a class, boys and men experience:

  • emotional disconnection, from themselves and others, at alarming rates
  • difficulty feeling sensations in their bodies and expressing emotions
  • social isolation in the form of fewer close relationships and friendships
  • lower levels of educational attainment
  • higher levels of suicide, substance abuse and unprotected sex
  • higher rates of violence, as both perpetrator and victim
  • higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault as perpetrators
  • decreased likeliness to access mental and physical health services

MERGE seeks to transform how boys are socialized from a young age and engaged later in life as men. This shift is essential to achieving gender equality.

What do boys and men have to do with gender equality?

Boys and men have access to opportunity, security and a variety of social benefits, not afforded to people of all genders. Opportunities for leadership and advancement are often afforded to boys and men over girls and women. Boys and men are generally less concerned and fearful about being victims of physical and sexual violence than are girls and women, based largely on the fact that girls and women are much more likely to experience violence perpetrated by boys and men than the other way around. These privileges often lead to the oppression of women, children and marginalized groups, in subtle to extreme ways. MERGE strives to empower boys and men to experience and help create healthy, compassionate, non-violent relationships and partner with people of all genders to serve as effective agents of change – to promote equality at home and in the community.

What is the MERGE Early Childhood Initiative?

In the Early Childhood Initiative, MERGE promotes the healthy social-emotional development and literacy of young boys. This includes disrupting harmful gender norms and stereotypes, which limit the emotional and social experience of boys, and the men they become. We do this by providing gender responsive training, coaching and resources to early childhood educators and those who support the growth and development of children ages 0-10 years of age. The initiative also includes a Children’s Book Campaign, with carefully selected titles that promote themes of healthy masculinity and gender equality, along with Discussion Guides for use of the books.

What are MERGE’s objectives for the Early Childhood Initiative?

The Early Childhood Initiative supports the professional development of early childhood educators and those who support young children and families in order to:

  • Increase male gender awareness (beliefs, attitudes and motivation to change), in ways favorable to healthy gender development for boys.
  • Increase practices and policies that support healthy gender development for boys.
  • Increase use of the Whole Book Approach to children's literature to support social-emotional development and verbal literacy, in ways that promote healthy gender development for boys.
  • Increase use of books from the MERGE for Equality Children's Book Campaign to promote literacy and conversations with children, parents, teachers and other care providers about healthy gender development.

Why does MERGE focus on early childhood?

The critical window for gender development is 0-9 years of age. Before the age of 3, most children are able to label themselves as either boy or girl.  By the age of 4, most children have a stable sense of their own gender identity.  During this same time, children are exploring and learning gender roles, including, noticing and accepting gender norms and stereotypes. Typically, these gender norms and stereotypes set rigid expectations about gender expression - for all children. In the case of boys, gender expectations unwittingly result in patterns of emotional suppression and social disconnection, which, in turn, can produce a host of negative behavioral and health outcomes throughout childhood and adulthood. Socially and emotionally connected boys today, is our best hope for safe, healthy families and communities tomorrow.

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