NGOs working for gender justice with boys and men: Exploring challenges of accountability

Abstract

The gender politics of the present moment are challenging for NGOs working for gender justice with boys and men especially in terms of navigating the different forms of accountability their work is subject to. This paper explores these challenges through concerns expressed by a small group of NGO leaders about issues of accountability. These concerns are theorized within a three-part model where accountability is conceptualized as (1) imposed, (2) felt, and(3) adaptive. The insights from the leaders highlight particular tensions within and between these different forms of accountability for NGOs working in the space of gender justice and, in particular, how these tensions can support and compromise feminist goals. Amid renewed public commitment to gender justice and greater attention and funding in this space for NGOs working with boys and men, ongoing critical examination of these tensions of accountability is imperative. K E Y W O R D Saccountability, gender justice, masculinities, NGOs | ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE NGO SECTOR: ISSUES OF FEMINIST ACTIVISMThe global impact of feminist movements such as #MeToo has led to a renewed public commitment to addressing issues of gender injustice. In contexts such as the USA, this renewed commitment has led to a rise in support for organizations working for gender justice with boys and men. The broader gender politics encompassing this space are challenging for such organizations especially in terms of navigating the different forms of accountability their work is subject to. This paper explores some of these challenges through concerns expressed by a small group of NGO leaders.