Thinking Outside the Man Box
A new Australian survey has found that men who identify with a ‘traditional’ definition of masculinity are significantly more likely to do harm to themselves and others.
The survey of 1,000 young men aged 18 to 30 was commissioned by the Jesuit Social Service’s Men’s Project. Men who expressed personal beliefs that had higher than average agreement with traditional masculine ideals were described as being in the ‘Man Box’.
46% of men inside the Man Box had made sexual comments to women they didn’t know in a public place in the past month, compared to 7% who were outside the Man Box. There are also striking differences with respect to the incidence of online and physical bullying, and even thoughts of suicide (see table below).
Table source: https://theconversation.com/australian-study-reveals-the-dangers-of-toxic-masculinity-to-men-and-those-around-them-104694
This research brings attention to an underlying cause of gender-based violence – the attitudes of men who live inside the Man Box and who practice a toxic form of masculinity. The findings point to the need to continue to address violence against women by paying attention to the behaviors and attitudes of men, and encouraging them to think outside the Man Box.
For further information on this research, visit the Men’s Project website, or read this summary of the research findings at The Conversation written by Michael Flood, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology.