Mission Statement:

To engage people and communities in transforming masculinity to advance gender equality.

Core Beliefs:

  • All boys are born loving, caring and sensitive
  • Boys are trained to be masculine in ways that are both beneficial and harmful.
  • Boys and men are taught that violence and domination are socially acceptable ways to control feelings of powerlessness and protect privileges.
  • Boys and men are eager to reclaim the capacity for caring and connection with self, others and community.
  • Masculinity can be changed.

Core Definitions

Gender

refers to the expectations, roles and responsibilities, which families, cultures and societies use to characterize individuals based on assigned biological sex. Gender roles and expectations are learned – starting at a young age, vary across culture and class, and can change over time. While often limited to either masculine (for males) or feminine (for females), gender categories are more diverse and include transgender (including those assigned male sex who identify as gender female and those assigned female sex who identify gender male).

Transforming Masculinity

is essential to advancing gender equality. It starts with socializing boys to be their naturally loving and life affirming selves, capable of expressing a full range of emotions and treating everyone with respect. It also includes the expectation that people of all genders will be equally empowered to live fulfilling lives - that boys and men will not be afforded privilege and power because of their gender. It leads to equal partnership in the home, community and society, helping ensure fair life outcomes for all.

Gender Equality

refers to the equal treatment of individuals based on gender, (a woman earning the same income as a man for performing the same work, a man accepted for expressing emotions or crying, a transgender person free to choose pronouns or restrooms). Women and transgendered individuals are more likely to be disadvantaged and marginalized whereas men are more likely to benefit from gender imbalances. Gender equality is beneficial for people of all genders.

Together we are - Transforming Masculinity to Advance Gender Equality

The MERGE Approach©

MERGE for Equality, Inc. 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.

There are three pillars of our work that are proven and remain constant. These are core elements, which MERGE embodies as we work to achieve our mission.

COMPASSION

We recognize that boys and men both benefit from, and are harmed by, gender inequality.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We believe boys and men have an important role in advancing gender equality.

PARTNERSHIP

We work to empower individuals and strengthen communities, by emphasizing collaboration and inclusiveness.

 

Building on these pillars, MERGE provides three core services:  Training and Consulting, Early Childhood Initiative and Advocacy, aimed at:

  • Promoting a deeper understanding of masculinity and reframing the conversation around men and boys
  • Convening strategic partnerships that promote best practices, networking and collective action in order to forge deep connections across social divides.
  • Building capacity by training, coaching, mentoring, and providing resources to individuals and groups involved in community building.
  • Galvanizing, developing, and supporting the next generation of change agents.

We prioritize working with members of each community to customize our methods and best position our efforts to provide the services they seek.

For a downloadable MERGE Services Brochure, click here.

The MERGE Theory of Change

Theory of Change map

The MERGE Theory of Change affirms our shared humanity, takes stock of current conditions, envisions a desired future and prescribes a catalyzing strategy to achieve this future.

Natural State

Boys and men are naturally loving, life affirming and sustained by connection.

Current Reality

Far too often, boys and men are socialized in ways that promote emotional disconnection, social isolation, dominance and violence. Reinforcement of these social expectations are harmful to all people, including boys and men, relationships, families and communities. Boys and men also have access to opportunity, security and a variety of social benefits, not afforded to people of all genders. These privileges often lead to the oppression of women, children and marginalized groups, in subtle to extreme ways.

Catalyzing Strategy

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. Core strategies for accomplishing this mission include: training and consulting services, annual summits and advocacy initiatives.

Desired Future

We envision a world that promotes the natural loving and life-affirming qualities of boys and men. This empowers 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.