@jmukami
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In the VAW programme, i am familiar with i would incorporate gender transformative positive parenting as this would reduce the beliefs on corporal punushment for children and also introduce couples programme to highlight discussions around inequalities and power dynamics in relationships.
1. Gender transformative positive parenting- Will enable her to learn on how to handle the children. She should also extend the invitation to the husband in order for them to bring up their children well without experiencing IPV.
2. Couples programme- she should join the programme to enable them to learn how to buold stronger and better relationship among them and have good communication channels between them.
3. Visitation and follow up by health care worker to know how they are doing and coping up and referral for further counselling and services when need be.
4. School programme for her 2 children to unlearn on the negative social norms and become a generation with new thinking.
The social norms that exist in my community is around male dominance and their directions whether detrimental to a family should not be questioned. This instill fears among children and Women.
Other harmful social norms that looks acceptable in our community are around women and children beating.
Having many sexual partners among men than in women is also more acceptable in our society subjugating further the rights of women and the need for women to protect themselves against marital conflict.Yes these social norms affect practitioners and there is a need to have values analysis and continue self reflection to ensure that we also dont perpertuate VAC/VAW based on our beliefs and our experiences growing up.
While it is desired to have a complete family including of a man and woman; nowadays there are a lot of single mothers annd to some extent fathers who are raiaing their children and doing a good job while at it.
I agree that men and women should share the responsibility in the household and women and girls should not be overburdened with house chores at the expense of their wellbeing, education and career growth.
Parents should explore different strategies for enhancing discipline in children not only beating. Others should
include open channels of communication, reward system and putting the best interest of the children first.Evidence has shown that violence against women and girls is usually perpetrated by those people close to them like family members, close friends and relatives and rarely by strangers.
Men can and should control themselves in terms of meting violence. This is just a gender norm that men cannot control themselves and they should always mete violence against children and women.
VAW/IPV should not be a private matter. Concerted efforts by family and community at large should ensure that VAW/IPV is addressed. Silence on VAC and VAW has led to a lot of premature deaths among children and women.
I have heard the phrase “spare the rod and spoil the child” in my community countless times and reinforces the need to discipline children so that they can be moulded and grow well. This has made parents avoid other strategies for dealing with disobedoence in children such as having discussions on their needs and what is troubling them. It also reinforces the belief the children are to be seen and not heard.
