When We Engage Men, What Else Happens?

Dominick Shattuck, PhD. is a member of our medical advisory board. In May, he published a fantastic article concerning the secondary impacts of involving men in the conversation about family planning.

Turns out, male involvement in family planning challenges negative gender norms and fosters positive communication between partners. There are a number of benefits to engaging men in this conversation.

"For many men, the ideal number of children and how to space them out has never been a discussion they’ve had with anyone, let alone their wives. Central to men’s involvement in family planning is the need to share these decisions with their partners. Sharing decisions requires individuals to actively listen in conversations, respect the opinion of their partner, and be willing to compromise for the betterment of the couple. These behaviors are often the objectives of intervention activities that challenge typical, normative behaviors for men, women and how they communicate. Additionally, being involved means being supportive and present and championing the actions of your partner, whether in family planning or other activities in the household."

To learn more, access the full article here.