A new report by SAFAIDS, in partnership with ADA partners, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises (MWACSMED), and Sonke Gender Justice, has shed light on the issue of care work and its impact on gender-based violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe.
The report reveals that men who are more involved in unpaid care work tend to have more positive attitudes and behaviors and are less likely to use violence against their partners or children. However, women who do not conform to traditional gender roles in unpaid care and domestic work may face an increase in domestic and intimate partner violence.
“Women who do not conform to traditional gender roles on unpaid care and domestic work may then face an increase in domestic and intimate partner violence, as well as sexual harassment at work or in public spaces,” an extract from the report reads.
The study found that a “proportion of 46.5% of women and 37.7% of men were involved in GBV/IPV (Gender-Based Violence/Intimate Partner Violence) as a result of care work, meaning that when expectations of care work are not met as per the men’s specifications,” reads the report.
The report also highlights the “Care Gap,” which deprives women of sleep, productive work, intimacy, recreation, and leisure, health, and general women’s rights. Women are forced to invest time in caregiving, often at the expense of their own rest, productivity, and leisure.
To address these issues, the report recommends the development and implementation of “a gender-transformative program that actively involves fathers and boys.
“This program should challenge gender and societal norms and promote shared caregiving responsibilities and foster positive fatherhood.”
Additionally, the report suggests a nationwide “mass media awareness campaign (including print, radio & TV, and social media platforms) which includes physical interaction with the public on the importance of recognition, reduction, and redistribution of care work in selected districts.
“Adopt Sonke Gender Justice/Men Engage training manuals for roll-out awareness programs within communities targeted at recognition, reduction, and redistribution of care work,” the report added.
