On Wednesday, 19 November, the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) held a virtual seminar in commemoration of UNESCO’s “International Men’s Day”, on the theme, “The Pressure to Be Tough: Men and Masculinities in Ghana.”
The event, organised by the Directorate for Gender and Communication Research, with collaboration from the Public Affairs Directorate, sought to provide a reflective space for discussing the expectations, stereotypes, and silent burdens that men in Ghana face. It also examined how these gender norms shape families, communities, and society at large.
The Pro Vice- Chancellor of UniMAC, Prof. Winston K. Abroampa Chaired the seminar. In his opening remarks, he welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of the day—not only because it marked a milestone for the newly created Gender Centre at UniMAC, but also because the topic was both timely and relevant.
He pointed out that Ghana, like many societies, has long upheld rigid expectations of what it means to be a man. He referred to expressions such as “men don’t cry” or the idea that men must always be strong, noting that these norms have created a culture where men feel unable to express vulnerability. Whilst stressing the importance of continuing conversations about the empowerment of women and girls, the Chair highlighted that gender is relational.
Prof. Abroampa reminded the audience that, efforts to promote equality must also consider how harmful norms affect everyone. He encouraged participants to listen with empathy and challenge ideas respectfully, and, in a lighter moment, joked that perhaps the speaker would finally “permit” some of the men present to cry. He concluded by saying that while the conversation might be uncomfortable, it was long overdue.
The Presenter for the seminar was Dr. Rosemary Obeng-Hinneh, the Director of the newly created Centre for Gender and Communication Research at UniMAC. She began her presentation by explaining the difference between sex and gender. She clarified that, “while sex is biological, gender is socially constructed”. Masculinity, she said, is “shaped by upbringing, culture, institutions, religion, and media”. The Presenter noted that the term masculinities is more accurate than masculinity, because expectations of men vary based on factors like age, class, ethnicity, and context.
Dr. Obeng-Hinneh highlighted several pressures faced by men in Ghana. She spoke about the pressure to be emotionally tough, noting that many boys grow up hearing that, “expressing emotion equals weakness”. This creates isolation and makes it difficult for men to share problems or seek help. Some men experience emotional struggles silently because society expects them to “man up.”
She also discussed the pressure around performance and capability, explaining that society often measures masculinity by success, provision, physical strength, and sexual or reproductive ability. These expectations, she noted, can create anxiety, shame, and strained relationships when men feel they fall short. Dr. Obeng-Hinneh encouraged participants to rethink how society places pressure on boys and men, suggesting that such expectations need to be redefined for healthier outcomes.
The topic of fatherhood and discipline was another key point. Dr. Obeng-Hinneh shared that, “men are often expected to act as disciplinarians or solely as financial providers”. This sometimes creates emotional distance between fathers and their children. She cited research showing that many men feel unrecognised or disconnected despite their efforts to provide.
The seminar also addressed the role of socialization and institutional influence, pointing out that schools, religious spaces, homes, and media all reinforce gender expectations. For example, teachers often compare boys to girls, suggesting that men must always outperform women. The media often portrays men as invulnerable, contributing to unrealistic standards.
Dr. Obeng-Hinneh also briefly touched on the issue of the ‘manosphere’, describing online groups that respond to men’s issues in unhealthy ways through anger or anti-women narratives. She urged scholars and communicators to engage more positively and responsibly in public discussions on gender.
Participants had the opportunity to provide feedback, comments and ask questions during the discussion session. One participant noted that International Men’s Day is not widely recognised and emphasised that many of the pressures men face come from institutions historically shaped by men. She encouraged men to reflect on how these systems, once designed to give them power, now contribute to their stress.
Another participant commended Dr. Obeng-Hinneh’s presentation and suggested that, emotional intelligence training should be implemented for children. He argued that teaching boys and girls early on how to understand and manage emotions could help reduce future pressures and lead to healthier adults.
Another point raised by a participant emphasised that women are also co-creators of societal norms and stressed that both men and women must work together to challenge traditions that unintentionally harm both genders.
In her closing statement, Dr. Obeng-Hinneh thanked the audience for their participation and reiterated that neither men nor women are born with gender roles—society shapes these expectations. She encouraged more research, open conversations, and intentional training on emotional expression for the next generation. She further underscored the point that, improving gender relations requires collective effort from families, institutions, media, and individuals.
In his closing remarks, the Chair expressed gratitude to the Presenter, Dr. Obeng-Hinneh for her insightful presentation and also to participants for their contributions. Prof. Abroampa expressed hope that the seminar would spark ongoing dialogue about healthier, more humane versions of masculinity in Ghana. He reminded everyone that acknowledging challenges is not weakness, and that building a better society starts with honest, courageous conversations like this one.
This seminar was an important discourse to start the communication on gender and masculinities. As UniMAC is a specialised university set up to train the next generation of communicators, journalists, creative artists and language experts, such conversations begin to shift the narrative on gender for a healthier societal acceptance and behavioral changes for a better future.