In various parts of the world, the majority of men young adults reject traditional ideas of masculinity that support the assaulthe stoicism and the homophobia. However, the constant influence of these ideas continues to harm many sectors.
For example, according to the survey Man Boxdirected by The Men’s Project of Jesuit Social Services and Respect Victoriabetween men from 18 to 30 years oldmen are still expected to act tough, be aggressive, take risks, be stoic, heterosexual, homophobic and transphobic, emotionally expressionless, hostile to femininity, and dominant.
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The survey results showed that most men do not support this model of virility and? most do not believe society is encouraging this version of manhood among them. This suggests thatand healthier, more gender-equitable and more inclusive norms of masculinity They are relatively common among young adult men in several countries.
Men are still expected to act tough, be aggressive, take risks and be emotionally expressionless, hostile and domineering, according to a survey by The Men’s Project
Although results are largely encouragingit is discouraging that levels of men’s support for traditional male beliefs have remained stable in recent years.
It is because of that it is still necessary to promote healthy alternatives to the rigid masculine idealsbased on qualities such as gender equality, non-violence, respect and empathy. This can be done through schools as part of education about respectful relationships. There may also be campaigns communication and social marketing and changes in policies and work cultures that limit parenting by menamong other strategies.
Construction work with men and boys
The field of “healthy masculinities” is still in development and it is increasingly common for people to endorse the idea that Men and boys will benefit from freedom from traditional masculine stereotypes.
However, for this growing field to make a real difference, there are some important ways forward.
Because the gender norms and the interaction patterns are rooted in the organizations and communitiesyou must also work in those spaces.
It takes a intensive intervention in the environments that support harmful forms of masculinity and not equitable from the point of view of gender. These may include specific workplaces, informal male peer groups and online platforms and networks in Reddit, X/Twitter and other places.
There are several studies on how stereotypical masculinity influences the poor health of men and their environment due to the use of violence and other social problems.
There are several studies on how stereotypical masculinity influences the bad health of men and boys, the use of violence and other social problems.
However, we need to know more about the positive aspects. What are the factors that shape healthy attitudes, behaviors and relationships between men and boys? How then can we build on them?
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We need to develop the ability of services and professionals to work well with men and boys: through university teaching, professional development and professional networks.
Finally, we need standards for a effective practice in working with men and boysso that the initiatives and programs that already exist in various parts of the world are not only well-intentioned, but really make a difference.
* Professor of Sociology, Queensland University of Technology.