Youth development experts have cautiously welcomed a little-known multi-million dollar Australian government initiative to nip toxic masculinity in the bud.
To end violence against women and children, the federal government is reshaping young men’s attitudes toward healthy, respectful relationships as “extremist influencers” like Andrew Tate influence people’s minds. aims to form.
The initiative, known as the Healthy Masculinity Project, will begin next year as a three-year trial with $3.5 million in funding.
This innovative project aims to eradicate gender stereotypes that are perpetuated online and promote a culture of respect and supportive relationships between colleagues. Addressing the insidious effects of media messaging.
The project will engage a targeted school-age male audience through sports clubs, community organizations, and direct interaction on social media.
A recent study revealed that 25 per cent of Australian teenage boys admire social media figures who promote harmful gender stereotypes and support violence against women.
The government is providing the funding through the First Action Plan Priority Fund, an $11.9 million fund that is part of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said young men need to develop supportive relationships with their male peers and this project was an important first step in developing healthy attitudes in men.
Ms Rishworth noted the link between toxic forms of masculinity and the perpetration of violence against women.
“Research shows a strong link between toxic masculinity and the perpetration of violence against women,” she says.
“Educating boys about healthy masculinity and providing them with positive role models is an important step in ending cycles of violence.”
This trial grant round will begin in early 2024 and will provide an opportunity for organizations with expertise to participate.
Ms Rishworth emphasized the need to address the roots of violent behavior.
Andrew Tate is a controversial kickboxer and reality TV star turned content creator who has amassed tens of millions of followers despite being deplatformed from most social media platforms. It has accumulated billions of views between.
He is known for preaching worrying views about women, including that rape victims “must take some responsibility” for their attacks. Or that a woman should have her male partner strangle her and stop her from going out.
But Mr. Tate often flaunts his lavish lifestyle and is seen by many young people as an authority on what success means.
In August he was released from house arrest in Romania and placed under judicial supervision, a less restrictive measure, while awaiting trial on human trafficking charges.
White Ribbon Australia national director Alan Ball previously explained to news.com.au: “Games, extreme bravado, and the use of music.” [in the videos of Tate] It covers his deplorable behavior with a filter of normalcy. ”
“Impressionable young people become part of the tribe, attracted by money, power and unwavering self-confidence,” he says.
After shutting down his subscription-based Hustlers University, an online academy for fans, Tate launched Real World Portal in recent months, allowing fans to make big bucks while helping spread videos on social media. I promised to help you earn money.
The anti-college Real World promises members can earn more than $10,000 a month online.
A joint statement from Monash University’s leading education experts, Dr Stephanie Wescott and Professor Stephen Roberts, widely welcomes the government’s efforts, but warns that misogynistic influencers like Ms Tate are not encouraging young people to be sensitive to young people. It highlighted the dangerous impact it has on young people.
The pair are currently conducting research into the impact of Tate’s content on boys in Australian schools, and have found that it is already having a far-reaching impact on girls and women in classrooms across the country. There is.
The study also found that boys who consumed Tate’s content were more likely to have unhealthy thoughts about relationships. This is a worrying finding given the high incidence of family violence in Australia.
Dr Wescott and Professor Roberts raised serious concerns about the potential pitfalls of implementing short-term ‘ad hoc’ programs and interventions that may lack the capacity for sustained engagement with young people. I raised it.
They cited mixed evidence on the effectiveness of such approaches and emphasized that there is no unified strategy for assessing their impact.
Experts call for long-term, direct and targeted efforts to challenge harmful social norms that impact boys’ mental health and emotions, while adopting a “gender transformation” approach based on best practices. recommended.
“We also challenge the assumption that boys only need to hear from other men about how to develop positive masculinity, and we are committed to including only male role models in healthy masculinity programs. We note that this is not supported by evidence,” the researchers wrote.
They argued that boys benefit from interacting with people of diverse gender identities at all stages of life.
Experts warned that featuring only male role models could reinforce the negative aspects of healthy masculinity programs.
“The reasons why boys and young people are attracted to extremist influencers like Andrew Tate are complex and multifaceted, and so should the approaches we use to deal with them.” Stated.
They called on the Federal Government and the Minister of Social Services to consult widely with experts in the field and rely on established research.