Across the Pacific, portrayals of masculinity as being "in crisis" have become common signalling not simply a personal or behavioural issue, but a broader tension at the intersection of cultural upheaval, economic insecurity, and shifting gender expectations (Masta, 2022). Violent outbursts, often involving young men, have been read as expressions of frustration (Connell, 2005; Macintyre, 2008). This volatility is not abstract; it often translates into harm, especially for women, girls, and other marginalised groups. From Bougainville to Fiji, young men have been central actors in episodes of political violence and civil unrest (Regan, 1998; Kent & Barnett, 2012). Efforts to prevent GBV and advance gender equality in the Pacific increasingly recognise that these outcomes cannot be achieved without men’s active engagement. But what kind of engagement is being asked for, and what kind is actually happening? This paper, based in research prepared for a forthcoming chapter, argues for a shift beyond allyship toward accompliceship: a deeper, risk-laden form of engagement in which men not only support but actively disrupt systems of patriarchal power, even when it challenges their own comfort, authority, or legitimacy. Drawing on feminist and decolonial theory, as well as grounded experiences in Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG), we examine the tensions, limitations, and transformative possibilities of involving men in gender justice work.
