Conversations on patriarchy have rightly foregrounded the injustice faced by women and girls through the denial of rights, freedom, safety, and opportunity. At the same time, patriarchy also places rigid and harmful expectations on men and boys, shaping how they experience emotions, relationships, power, and identity. From a young age, boys are socialised to suppress vulnerability, equate masculinity with control, and carry disproportionate burdens of dominance and responsibility. These norms not only sustain gender inequality but also limit boys’ emotional and social well-being.
This panel emerges from the recognition that gender justice cannot be achieved unless men and boys are meaningfully included as allies and advocates for change. It draws from SHEF’s critical feminist pedagogy, conceptualised and developed by Dr Urvashi Sahni, Founder and CEO of SHEF, which seeks to enable both girls and boys to critically examine gender in patriarchal societies, deconstruct oppressive notions of masculinity and femininity, and reconstruct more egalitarian ways of being.
The discussion will bring together educators, students, parents, and thinkers to reflect on:
How patriarchy harms men and boys alongside women and girls
Why redefining masculinity is essential for achieving gender justice
How education can engage boys without blame, while fostering responsibility and accountability
