Copyright brisbanetimes
The first Australian study to examine the connection between rigid gender norms and life outcomes among adolescent boys – and how beliefs about masculinity affect their wellbeing and behaviour – has found that boys who are not governed by very limiting ideas about what it means to be masculine are more likely to thrive. Those who adhere to harsh traditional values about manhood are more likely to harm themselves or other people, engage in risk-taking behaviours and to have problems with drug and alcohol use. They are also less likely to have good mental health. Jesuit Social Services researchers, whose long-term work to support boys and young men’s wellbeing is well regarded, asked 1401 young people from around Australia aged 14 to 18 about how much they perceived and endorsed stereotypical masculine norms. They measured this against boys’ actions and experiences. It revealed promising findings about how teen boys see their future. About 85 per cent of boys are optimistic about it “despite the pressures they face”. And almost all boys said they were disturbed by the harassment of women and girls.
