Rethinking Masculinity: Inside Senegal’s Groundbreaking “Schools for Husbands”

In the heart of Senegal, an unconventional classroom is reshaping the meaning of manhood. Known as the “Schools for Husbands,” this groundbreaking initiative invites men to sit together, question deep-rooted traditions, and relearn what it truly means to be a husband, partner, and father.

Launched with the support of the United Nations and local organizations, the Schools for Husbands were designed to address issues such as maternal health, gender inequality, and harmful cultural norms. But their impact has gone far beyond — sparking a quiet revolution in how men see themselves and their roles within families and communities.

What Happens in the Schools?

Unlike conventional classrooms, there are no textbooks or blackboards here. Instead, respected community leaders facilitate open discussions. Men gather to talk about shared responsibilities, from supporting their wives during childbirth to making decisions as equal partners in the household.

Through these conversations, they begin to unlearn toxic behaviors and embrace new ways of being — grounded in empathy, care, and equality.

For generations, societal expectations have placed men in rigid boxes: providers, decision-makers, authority figures.

The Schools for Husbands challenge that narrative. By reframing masculinity as partnership rather than dominance, the program encourages healthier families and stronger communities.

The results have been powerful. Women report feeling more supported, maternal health outcomes are improving, and men themselves express greater satisfaction in their roles as fathers and husbands.

What began in Senegal is now inspiring conversations across Africa and beyond. As gender equality remains a global challenge, initiatives like the Schools for Husbands remind us that real progress cannot happen without men at the table — not as bystanders, but as active partners in change.

At its core, this is more than a program. It’s a cultural shift — one that redefines masculinity not as control, but as care, respect, and shared responsibility.