Engaging with men
The Equality Unit's work on gender equality has concentrated largely on women's issues because women disproportionately experienced discrimination and inequality. We do recognise, however, that there are areas where men also experience disadvantage, for example, by workplace cultures that do not recognise or support their family or childcare responsibilities and so deny them the opportunity to take advantage of flexible working arrangements. Men also may not be recognised routinely as active parents by family services and they too experience poor health outcomes across a range of health issues that do not properly take account of their needs as men and boys.
We know that we need to do more around men's issues and seek men's contribution to the broader issues around equality. This has been acknowledged by making 'improving networks with men' a key objective in the Scottish Government's Gender Equality Scheme.
We held a meeting in November 2008 of Equality Unit contacts, internal and external and across equality strands, of people with an interest in - and knowledge of - a variety of issues concerning men and boys.
Minutes of the meeting of 20 November 2008.
It was agreed to have another meeting in 2009.