November 14, 2022
Toxic masculinity needs White RIbbon rethink
White Ribbon group has flipped the script with its latest anti-domestic violence campaign,”
Instead of “boys will be boys,” it says the slogan should be “boys will be respectful.”‘
Manager Rob McCann says family violence is connected to rigid ideas from the 1950s about masculinity which say men must appear dominant, be tough, be in charge, be promiscuous, drink lots and not show emotions.
White Ribbon has developed an online toolbox to help men address these issues.
“Many, many cultures right throughout the world have allowed that perception that men are supposed to be the warriors, the providers, the tough ones. That’s something all of us in Aotearoa need to look at and say actually there are a bunch of other things young men should be – they should be kind, caring, considerate, compassionate,” Mr McCann says.
He says when he grew up the All Blacks inspired him where the ones who broke their arms and kept playing, but at the weekend we saw the Silver Ferns flip the script with real people playing, showing real emotions and talking in a human way.