Appendix II: Interview Schedule

Good day and thank you for agreeing to participate in this important study on men and fathering
in Jamaica. My name is….The study is a joint project between the IGDS and the BGA and its
findings will help us raise awareness about positive male role models and positive/alternative
forms of fathering, as well as help guide the national policy dealing with gender equality and
gender based violence. Your participation is completely voluntary and you are free to withdraw
at any point if your feel uncomfortable. While we request your permission to record the
interview, this is being done for analysis purposes only. Your name and contact information will
not be revealed without your consent and the discussions and responses that you give today will
be held in the strictest of confidence. Only the research team will be privy to same. We ask that
you respond honestly and as detailed as possible so that we get as close a true reflection of your
views and experiences as possible. Thank you!

1. What does it mean to be a man in Jamaica today?

Masculinity is a hot button topic globally, unfortunately, a lot of people equate
masculinity with unnecessary aggression and disrespect, Jamaica is no exception.

The typical Jamaican male is usually portrayed as the crotch grabbing, cat calling,
cussing, screw face male.

This caricature is true especially where men have a harder time advancing their status in
society and so these individuals need to act much more aggressively to acquire status
symbols.

In general, men in Jamaica are faced with the same issues that affect all men globally;
discrimination, changing gender roles, family instability, job security, politics of
sexuality, crime and violence and growing confusion about man’s purpose in today’s
world.
Jamaican men like men all over the world, strive to be better fathers, better friends, better
partners, better lovers, better providers and better protectors, we just might have more
creative ways of accomplishing these goals.
2. Where do your ideas about being a man stem from in your view?
My spiritual practice which is Taoism looks at yin and yang as the male and female
principle, two halves of one unity that sustains and propels reality forward.

The male principle illustrates the strength and drive that promotes unconditional love and
provides support for each person’s personal development in becoming the best they can
be.
 3. How do ideas about being a man impact fathering in Jamaica?
Fathering in Jamaica takes many forms; the doting father, the hypermasculine hard to
please Father, the judgemental father; the over protective father and the absentee father.
We mirror our parents until we find out that their methods aren’t particularly efficient or
effective

4. What does it mean to be a father in Jamaica?

Fathers in Jamaica face the same challenges and insecurities of fathers across the world.
Fathers I think serve to work in slight contrast to the overt nurturing of mothers, to
provide a firm hand to ensure that children become respectful, responsible, independent,
strong, decisive, loving individuals. Fatherhood is a delicate balancing act, that requires
enormous sensitivity and ego awareness.
5. Tell us your personal experiences of being a father? (either to biological or non-
biological children)
One of my biggest lessons as a parent is to understand that each child is unique, is their
own person and should not be raised to represent you the parent. You should be raising
them to thrive in an often difficult world fraught with challenges. I’m a home school dad
and very early in the experience I realized that I couldn’t have a one size fits all approach
to their education or my expectations for them, they are all different all with their own
strengths and weakness. Raising and educating your children takes a monumental amount
of patience and openness to learning.

6. Tell us what your organization has been doing in terms of fathering/mentoring

boys/young men in your community?

Krew Demolishun is a Kingston based hip hop collective consisting of a b boy/break

dance crew, sound system, urban artists, martial artists and musicians formed to promote
all aspects of hip hop culture, encourage self expression and foster positivity in youth

Some of our objectives are

I. To support the personal growth of youth everywhere as they express themselves through
hip hop’s range of visual and performance art forms

II. To promote academic competence, perceptive thinking, cultural awareness, positive

thinking, self sufficiency, leadership skills, productivity, creativity, and effective
communication skills through continuous mentoring and diverse learning activities.

III. To create opportunities for all individuals involved by generating exposure through
sponsorship, exhibitions, concerts/shows, travel, classes, artist to artist contact or media
acknowledgment.
7. How do you feel about community fathering?
Seeing disadvantaged kids in particular develop into something more is the most
fulfilling part, it’s incredible to see how some of these kids have developed positively
with just a little exposure and boost to their confidence from having a skill that they’re
good at.

8. How does your work help foster better fathering?

Fathering is really about wanting the best for children in every regard, and it takes a lot of
awareness, a lot of paying attention and a lot of revision. How you speak to them, What
you say around them, what you expose them to, what you demand of them, how you treat
people, how you show love to your partner etc. My work helps ME to be a better father
by improving my patience.
9. What challenges and successes have you had?
As far as Demolishun goes, It has been a bumpy ride. I’ve lost members to police
shootings and crime, but for the most part the kids grow up and get work using the
exposure, skills, confidence and discipline they’ve learned with Demolishun. Most now
work as entertainers on the north coast, and some are just happy not to be caught up in
the negative reality of their environments
10. What can government do to help create an environment to get more men involved as
fathers? (policy, law, programmes)
I think apart from maternity leave, Government should stay out of family life.
The maxim “it takes a village to raise a child” is more true today that ever before and
needs to be revisited.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend toward more and more isolation in our society,
this promotes more social discrimination and so some people will always have the
resources to prepare their children for the future and some people will always be lacking.

See Article.

https://www.redbull.com/car-en/breaking-bad-b-boying-in-jamaica