Let’s spread the jam of love to support our young men – for all of our sakes.
In Australia today at the National Press Club, Matt Tyler, Executive Director of The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services outlined the key findings from The Adolescent Man Box, a survey of 1,400 adolescents of all genders aged 14 to 18.
My attention was drawn to these statements:
“Many boys feel pressure to always appear tough and confident. Between 60% and 63% of boys and girls believe that most people in Australia expect teenage boys to be manly, confident, and strong at all times”
“Those who most strongly internalise these restrictive masculine norms are more likely to hold harmful attitudes, engage in abusive behaviours, and struggle with their own wellbeing”.
We don’t need research like this to know there is an issue. The research helps to gain some clarity and focus from which we can direct our energies. For all of you who are in relationship with young men, take note of these recommendations from the recent Adolescent Man Box Report
- Recovery and healing from experiences of violence and abuse
- Increased help-seeking behaviours
- Normalising diverse masculinities
- Rejection of violence and violence supportive attitudes
- Deepened understanding and respect forgender equality
- Increased respect and empathy forLGBTQIA+ peers
- Healthier responses to rejection
- Improved understanding of digital consentand surveillance
- Rejection of image-based abuse and itssocial acceptance
- Mitigating the risks and harms of pornography
- Improved bystander confidence and skills
- Sustaining hope for the future
Societal issues don’t emerge out of a vacuum. We co-create these conditions. And we need to have the courage to create something different. To dare to love in this world – something I sing about in a demo called Culture Jammer. A tune that draws from Robert Frost’s classic poem Mending Wall.
Listen to the demo of Culture Jammer here
Go and spread the jam of love.
Blessings,
Luke
