To Challenge the #Outdated we need to know how to Raise Our Men

November 25, 2020 by robmccann

Raise Our Men features interviews with New Zealand men about their experience of growing up and conforming to male stereotypes (the man box).

It’s been developed by White Ribbon NZ because how we encourage and expect men to behave, directly affects the high level of domestic violence and sexual harm in this country.

There’s a considerable amount of research that has moved family violence prevention towards targeting the drivers of that violence – men’s masculinity. For example, recent research suggests that rigid beliefs in gender roles and glorifying aggression and control are strong predictors of negative outcomes, especially in the case of violence against women and other men.

The drivers behind family violence are the attitudes men have towards women, and their role within a relationship and family. That’s why we are Challenging the #Outdated so we can promote and support healthy masculinity.

The film picks up on the four key links:

Men learn they have more power than women and so feel they are entitled to use violence against women.
Men hold to a rigid division of what men do and what women do (gender roles), and use violence to enforce this.
Men tend to express anger through aggression and are not encouraged to express all the other feelings they have.
Men take their traditional masculinity identity from peers and the media, rather than developing their own more healthy identity.

The film features interviews with nine kiwi men, and in telling their stories, it shows that change is possible – when men are shown and supported to choose a different respectful path. Download the discussion guide on ‘How to effectively use White Ribbon’s Raise Our Men film

White Ribbon hopes the film will prompt discussion about how we raise our boys and male behaviour, and encourage men to use the White Ribbon Toolboxes that outline how to have respectful relationships and respectful sexual relationships.

The film is a free resource for anyone working with men, and young men, to promote positive, respectful behaviour.

Download the discussion guide for the film.