Welcome to The Pixel Project’s Voices Of Dads Against VAW blog interview series! This series takes our original 30 For 30 Father’s Day interview series to the next level by opening this interview platform all year round to dads worldwide with one (1) dad interview published per month.
We created this interview series:
- To acknowledge the vital role dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
- To showcase men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent and non-sexist male role models.
- To provide dads worldwide a positive platform to share ideas about stopping sexism, misogyny, and violence against women and girls.
To date, over 150 dads have completed this simple yet thought-provoking interview. If you are a dad who is interested, you can fill in the interview form here.
For the third in our series of June 2022 interviews, meet Nicholas Chan from Malaysia.
Picture courtesy of Nicholas Chan.
The Dad Bio:
My name is Nick and I work in the banking industry. I grew up as the youngest in the family with an older brother and two older sisters and I love that we are all still very much in each other’s lives. My wife and I have a pair of 8-year-old twins – a boy who is both goofy and conscientious, and a girl who is cheeky and fearless despite her challenges. They have proven time and time again that superheroes come in small sizes too!
1. What is the best thing about being a Dad?
Children teach you to look at things from a different point of view. This is both surprising and liberating, but with it comes a huge responsibility. There is also a stronger will to live a more meaningful life because you are accountable for someone other than yourself.
2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father (or father figure) influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?
My dad grew up in a rather patriarchal family but I think having five sisters made a difference in him. He has a lot of traditional values but I grew up watching him be a devoted husband and a present father. My parents were wet market traders; they were business partners and worked as a team both at work and at home. My dad was a hands-on dad. He taught us everything from fixing vehicles to repairing or building stuff to gardening, and he and my mom raised all four of us as equals, whether it came to school, housework, or what we wanted to do with our lives.
3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?
I believe that leading by example goes a long way. For instance, with my son, I think it’s important to instill certain values in him, especially about how he treats people around him. I would also remind my kids that they are lucky and to use that privilege to help others who may not be in the same position. Also, young boys should be taught to respect women and that respect goes both ways, regardless of gender, class or status.
Ultimately, violence against women is a men’s problem. Those responsible for it need to stop it. Those who agree with it need to be educated. As for the rest of us, we need to also take a stand in the fight and advocate against it. A lot of this fight, I believe, starts at home.