The ‘doing’ and ‘undoing’ of male household decision-making and economic authority in Rwanda and its implications for gender transformative programming

This paper explores two key norms that can underpin intimate partner violence (IPV) in Rwanda: men’s role as economic provider and decision-making authority in the household. It describes the political, legal and socio-economic factors affecting these norms and how they create opportunities and barriers to ‘undoing’ restrictive gender norms. The findings are drawn from an evaluation of Inadshyikirwa, an IPV prevention programme operating in Rwanda. Across 3 intervention sectors, 24 focus groups were conducted with unmarried and married men and women residing in intervention communities. 30 interviews with couples and 9 interviews with opinion leaders were conducted before they completed programme trainings designed to shift gender norms underlying IPV. The data indicates a strong awareness of and accountability to Rwandan laws and policies supporting women’s economic empowerment and decision-making, yet also persisting traditional notions of men as household heads and primary breadwinners. Transgression of these norms could be accommodated in some circumstances, especially those involving economic necessity. The data also identified an increasing recognition of the value of a more equitable partnership model. This paper highlights the importance of carefully assessing cracks in the existing gender order that can be exploited to support gender equality and non-violence

Sexual transgression and social disconnection: healing through community-based sociotherapy in Rwanda

A distinguishing feature of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and the preceding 1990-1994 war in Rwanda was the social intimacy of the crimes committed. The legacy of this kind of violence includes distrust in social relations within communities and families, an increase of violence in everyday social interaction, transgressive sexual engagements, and a range of psychological problems. Many people feel nostalgia for their past social life, but are unable to change their current situation. In 2005, a community-based sociotherapy programme was introduced into this context of mental and social distress. The goal was to help people regain feelings of dignity and safety and to reduce distress. This paper is based on qualitative research, in particular, case studies. It explores how sociotherapy, as a specific form of peer group counselling, may facilitate the healing of suffering related to issues of sexuality, violence within the family and the breakdown of social connections on a community level. Una característica que distingue al genocidio en 1994 contra los tutsi de la anterior guerra entre 1990-1994 en Ruanda es la intimidad social de los crímenes cometidos. El legado de este tipo de violencia es la desconfianza en las relaciones sociales dentro de las comunidades y las familias, un aumento de la violencia en la interacción social diaria, la participación en actividades sexuales transgresoras y toda una serie de problemas psicológicos. Aunque muchas personas sienten nostalgia por su vida social anterior, son incapaces de cambiar su situación actual. En 2005 se introdujo un programa socioterapéutico de la comunidad para abordar las dificultades mentales y sociales. Su objetivo fue ayudar a las personas a recobrar sus sentimientos de dignidad y seguridad y reducir la angustia. Este artículo se basa en un estudio cualitativo, en particular con estudios de casos. Analizamos el modo en que la socioterapia, como una forma específica de asesoramiento en grupo, puede facilitar la curación del sufrimiento relacionado con cuestiones de sexualidad, violencia dentro de la familia y el deterioro de las conexiones sociales en la comunidad. Une particularité du génocide de 1994 contre les Tutsis au Rwanda et de la guerre qui l'avait précédé entre 1990 et 1994 a été l'intimité sociale des crimes commis. Les séquelles de ce type de violences comprennent la méfiance vis-à-vis des rapports sociaux au sein des communautés et des familles, une augmentation de la violence dans l'interaction sociale de tous les jours, des engagements sexuels transgressifs et un ensemble de problèmes psychologiques. Nombreux sont les gens qui sont nostalgiques de leur vie sociale passée mais qui sont incapables de changer leur situation actuelle. En 2005, un programme communautaire de sociothérapie a été introduit dans ce contexte de désarroi mental et social. Il avait pour but d'aider les personnes à retrouver un sentiment de dignité et de sécurité et de diminuer leur détresse. Cet article s'appuie sur une recherche qualitative - en particulier des cas d'études. Il examine comment la sociothérapie, en tant que méthode spécifique de counselling dans un groupe de pairs, peut faciliter la guérison des souffrances relatives aux questions de la sexualité, de la violence au sein des familles et de la dégradation des connexions sociales au plan communautaire

Shifting and transforming gender-inequitable beliefs, behaviours and norms in intimate partnerships: the Indashyikirwa couples programme in Rwanda

This paper explores the relationship between changes in individual beliefs and behaviours, couple relationship dynamics and gender norms – and how interventions can influence these. It draws on longitudinal qualitative research with heterosexual couples who participated in the Indashyikirwa programme in Rwanda. The couples followed a curriculum designed to improve relationship skills and reduce the gender-inequitable beliefs, behaviours and norms that underpin intimate partner violence. Qualitative findings show that the programme resulted in moderate, but significant, positive ‘shifts’ in individual beliefs and behaviours, couple relationship dynamics and levels of inequality - increasing men’s engagement in domestic duties, women’s participation in household decision making, and women’s access to economic resources. They also suggest which parts of the couples’ curriculum were most effective in catalysing these changes. However, the data also show that these ‘shifts’ occurred without fully transforming deeply-entrenched beliefs and norms around gender roles and male authority over economic resources. The paper suggests that the persistence of these beliefs and norms constrained the extent of changes among couples – and could potentially constrain their longevity and act as an obstacle to longer-term, larger-scale changes in gender inequalities and violence