HOW MAGE-SL TRANSFORMED MY UNDERSTANDING OF GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH THE MEN POWER POLITICS (MPP) TRAINING
By Patrick Paul Williams
Growing up in Sierra Leone, I was immersed in a society shaped by generations of patriarchal norms. Leadership was seen as a man’s domain. Authority in the household, the community, and the workplace was rarely questioned when it was in male hands. Like many others, I had absorbed the belief – sometimes subtly, other times overtly – that gender roles were fixed, natural, and not to be contested. Gender equality was a term I heard from time to time in policy discussions, in NGOs, or on the radio – but it never felt personal, never felt relevant to who I was or how I lived. That changed profoundly when I encountered the Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL) and participated in their transformative Men Power Politics (MPP) training.
The MPP training was not a one-off lecture or seminar – it was a life-changing experience. It invited me on a journey of reflection, questioning, and relearning. In a safe, honest, and thought-provoking environment, I was encouraged to examine long-held beliefs about masculinity, power, and relationships between men and women. Through stories, case studies, group discussions, and practical examples from daily life, I was gently but firmly led to confront the realities of gender inequality – not as an abstract problem affecting only women, but as a deeply rooted system that affects everyone, including men like me.
One of the most powerful revelations was the concept of male privilege – how men benefit from an unequal system in ways we often don’t even recognise. It opened my eyes to how frequently men are assumed to be more competent, more trustworthy, more worthy of leadership, while women must constantly prove themselves to be heard and respected. These imbalances are so normalised that we seldom pause to notice them. The training did not seek to make us feel guilty – it asked us to become aware, to take responsibility, and to use our positions of privilege to create a fairer and more inclusive world.
Equally transformative was the redefinition of masculinity that MPP offered. I had been conditioned to associate manhood with control, stoicism, and dominance. Any expression of vulnerability was seen as weakness. Any collaboration with women was seen as a concession of authority. MPP challenged those assumptions head-on. It taught me that real strength lies in empathy, humility, and emotional honesty. That masculinity can – and should – embrace care, cooperation, and accountability. It helped me see that being a man does not require suppressing others; rather, it involves standing alongside others to uplift everyone.
As I internalised these lessons, they began to shape my actions in everyday life. I started challenging sexist jokes and assumptions in conversations with friends and colleagues. I found myself listening more intentionally to women’s perspectives, both at home and in professional settings. I began to support and promote women’s leadership, not as a favour, but as a necessary step toward balanced decision-making. I also took a hard look at my own behaviour—how I speak, how I relate to my spouse, how I engage with children, and committed to being a better example of respectful partnership and shared responsibility.
What I gained from MPP is more than just information – it is a renewed purpose. I now see gender equality not as a “women’s issue” but as a human issue. It is about dignity. It is about justice. It is about creating a society where everyone, regardless of gender, has the same opportunities to live, lead, and contribute fully. I believe that we, as men, must not just support this vision quietly. We must speak up. We must act. We must model the change we want to see in our communities.
I am deeply grateful to MAGE-SL for offering me this opportunity. The MPP program is a beacon of change. It equips men not only to think differently but to live differently, to become advocates, allies, and ambassadors for gender justice. My hope is that more men across Sierra Leone will embark on this journey because when men take ownership of the fight for equality, we accelerate the transformation of our homes, our workplaces, and our nation.
Thanks to MAGE-SL, I no longer see gender equality as a distant idea. I see it as my responsibility, my commitment, and my contribution to a future where every person, man or woman, can thrive with equal dignity, opportunity, and voice.
