Men of care, in an emergency! Care and masculinities in the current context of COVID-19 in Central-America

Authors

  • Larry José Madrigal Rajo Centro Bartolomé de Las Casas
  • Walberto Tejeda Guardado Centro Bartolomé de Las Casas

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled a deep care crisis in Central America. The numbers of infections and deaths seem to affect mainly men, especially young and urban, increasing and complexing the burden of care for women. Reports from the media, virtual networks, and organized civil society groups in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua indicate behaviors of men not helping to prevent, contain, and educate against the virus. In the whole situation there is an insufficient gender approach and almost no intersectionality and no focus on masculinities. This article analyzes the regional situation with gender lenses from the action and political reflection of the Masculinities Program, problematizing the figures and data, discussing the crisis of care and promoting the co-responsibility of men from a pro-feminist option.

Keywords:

Masculinities, Care, Men's co-responsability in care, COVID-19, Central America