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You're the Man

Country

Cambodia

Programme Summary

In 2009, Family Health International (FHI) presented "You're the Man!", a competitive television (TV) reality show designed to respond to the lack of HIV prevention programming for young men in Cambodia. The initiative was designed to address the challenge young men face to live up to competing models of what it means to be a real man: a strong commitment to the male social group, including heavy drinking and commercial sex, but also the masculine concepts of responsibility to the family, to female partners, and to leadership.

Communication Strategies

To address the opposing ideas of what it means to be male in Cambodian society, FHI created a competition-based reality TV show, based on the principles of entertainment-education, where the winner would exemplify what it means to be a real man. Six male contestants competed in various activities that illustrate the challenges in living up to this role. The issues addressed in the show included: gender equality and respect; sensitivity in relationships, self-control, and self-determination in the face of peer pressure and destructive masculine norms; a man's duties in HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention; and his broader duties to the nation, to society, to his family, friends and to himself. Visitors to the You're The Man website may view episodes and read about the contestants.

Development Issues

Gender, HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

FHI, in collaboration with Population Services International, conducted a qualitative research study on male clients in 2007. It found that male social groups, with accompanying alcohol consumption and peer pressure, were often the context for sexual decision-making. Ideas about masculinity in Cambodian society include a strong commitment to this male social group, including heavy drinking and commercial sex. But masculinity also includes concepts of responsibility to the family and to female partners, and to leadership. The diversity in these roles presents a conflict for Cambodian men.

Partners

Primarily funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Contact

Family Health International (FHI)

P.O. Box 13950
Research Triangle Park

Durham NC
27709
United States
Tel: 1 919 544 7040
Fax: 1 919 544 7261

Source

C-Hub and You're The Man Show website - both accessed January 18 2011.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site January 18 2011
Last Updated February 25 2011



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