‘You can’t be what you can’t see’-The need for positive male role models in boys' lives
In today’s post, we are spotlighting new research from researchers Daniel Datnow-Jamieson and Ged Moriarty at the Man Cave, “You Can't Be What You Can't See: How positive role models can increase health outcomes in primary prevention”.
In Australia, an estimated 8 million people have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15. 1 in 4 women experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member. Earlier this year, the Netflix hit series ‘Adolescence’ saw an explosion of conversation on topics around teenage boys, ‘toxic masculinity’ and the ‘manosphere’. Some have critiqued these conversations findings them unhelpful with the potential to cause harm to how young boys see themselves. Growing commentary suggests working with teenage boys in primary prevention of domestic and family violence is essential, but so too is the way people work with teenage boys.
Researchers at the Man Cave argue that current approaches designed for adult men should not be generalised to younger populations, as it may unintentionally isolate boys and provoke resentment. Instead, they advocate for having conversations with boys instead of about them.
What is the Man Cave?
The Man Cave is an Australian preventative mental health charity for teenage boys and young men. Their programs challenge problematic gender stereotypes, creating safe spaces for boys to create long-term, positive shifts in attitudes and behaviours.
The research
Between February and April 2024, The Man Cave collected data from 2,245 teenage boys, to understand their attitudes towards their female peers and their efficacy as prosocial bystanders. The questions they sought to address were:
1. What are teenage boys’ attitudes towards their female peers?
2. How confident are teenage boys in intervening as bystanders?
3. What factors influence boys’ attitudes towards their female peers and their confidence in prosocial bystander intervention?
The findings
1. The research found that of the variables measured, the presence of positive male role models in their lives were the strongest predictor of boys' attitudes towards their female peers.
2. The other main finding was that primary prevention efforts targeting teenage boys are most effective when delivered with age-appropriate, emotional development program.
From the findings, the researchers have developed a conceptual Framework of Primary Prevention for teenage boys.
Key takeaways from the research
· Boys Can’t Be What They Can’t See. Boys need to have positive male role models' in their lives. This was the strongest predictor of prosocial attitudes towards their female peers, and this suggests that exposing boys to positive male role models - even for a day - has the potential to shift their attitudes towards girls.
· Meet Teenage Boys Where They Are At By Fostering Emotional Development teenage boys are interested in being prosocial bystanders but have not been fully equipped with the emotional intelligence to do so. This data suggests that capacity-building for DFV primary prevention in teenage boys is dependent on boys' emotional awareness, help-seeking behaviours, and ability to healthily express their emotions.
· The Messenger Is Also The Message. When working with teenage boys, the messenger delivering a primary prevention program is a critical component of the message. When the message is embodied authentically by the individual delivering the program, boys are given permission to transform.
· What is a Positive Male Role Model? This research is built upon an 'absence of' positive male role models, and that boys can identify when they are missing from their lives. The Man Cave plans to conduct future research to unpack boys' interpretations of what a positive male role model is to them.
· An Ecosystem of Change is Necessary. Emotional development workshops are not a silver bullet approach. This research suggests emotional development is a fundamental driver of effective primary prevention, but it is not solely sufficient - a broader ecosystem of prevention is necessary
Special thanks to Daniel Jack Paproth from the Man Cave for help in drafting this piece. This research was headed by Head of Operations, Impact & Technology Daniel Datnow-Jamieson and Research & Evaluation Coordinator Ged Moriarty.
Moderator: Dr. Cadhla O’Sullivan