WASHINGTON, May 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While 56% of
parents (of boys ages 4-14) report it is "very important" to them
that their sons have emotional strength, they also say that boys
are not comfortable sharing their full range of feelings, finds a
report launched today by Promundo and the Kering Foundation.
The report, "Staying-at-Home with our Sons: Fostering Healthy
Masculinity in Challenging Times," reveals that approximately 2/3
of parents agree that boys feel comfortable expressing anger; but
that they are uncomfortable letting on when they are scared, sad,
lonely, or unsure of themselves. Nearly half of parents say boys
don't feel comfortable talking about love.
The report points to social pressures on boys to conform as
being influential, and it shares recommendations on how to support
them to break free from masculine stereotypes, aiming to support
boys to: feel more comfortable expressing their emotions in
positive ways, being themselves (without feeling pressured to "act
like a boy"), and forming and maintaining connections with others,
which will ultimately contribute to achieving gender equality and
preventing violence. This data comes from a nationally
representative survey conducted with parents of boys ages 4-14 in
the US, supplemented by in-depth interviews with 16 boys ages 8-16
in California and Pennsylvania, conducted by PerryUndem.
The majority of parents (of boys ages 4-14) in the United States (US) – about 60% –
recognize the social pressures boys face to be physically strong,
show interest in sports, and "fit in." Additionally, 41% of parents
said boys face pressures to have a girlfriend or like girls
romantically (in other words, to be straight); and, 45% said boys
face pressure not to cry.
"If you show feelings, it makes
you look weak and vulnerable. People will take that vulnerability
and use it against you." – 15 year-old boy, interview
respondent
These pressures seem to get more intense as boys get older:
through interviews, boys themselves report that when they hit early
adolescence, around 10-12 years old, they felt more pressure to fit
into masculine stereotypes than before. This trajectory may
continue to mount with age: across every category, parents surveyed
with sons on the older end of the spectrum (12-14 years old),
reported their boys face more pressure to fit into a masculine
ideal, than did parents of boys aged 4-11. Some parents may
consciously, or unconsciously reinforce these masculine
stereotypes: 25% of parents surveyed agree it is very important for
their sons to "act like a boy," (and not like a girl), 19% think it
is very important for their sons to be straight.
This isn't surprising, considering Promundo's research, which
finds that at least 72% of young men (18-30 years old) in the US
say they've been told that, "A 'real' man behaves a certain way,"
at some point in their life, and that this way often involves being
heterosexual, tough, and a risk-taker. This can have negative
consequences: young men who hold more stereotypical views about
manhood are more unhappy, depressed and anxious, more likely to
have considered suicide, to binge drink, to harass and to bully,
and to use violence than young men who have less restrictive views
of manhood.
However, preferences for honesty, respect, and emotional health
for their sons demonstrate that, despite the persistence of harmful
ideas about masculinity, many parents are working to help their
sons break free from stereotypes: 61% of parents voted 'being
honest' into their priority list of 5 traits they think are most
important for their sons to learn, while 56% opted for 'respecting
others', and 53% for 'being responsible'. Only 7% of parents agree
that being physically strong should make the top of their son's
priority list. With many parents spending additional time with
their children, due to the spread of COVID-19, there is a challenge
and an opportunity to continue to support boys to break free from
stereotypes and to share their feelings in constructive, safe
ways.
"The spread of COVID-19 has meant that many of us are not
only spending increased time at home with our children, we are also
worrying about the impact of the crisis on their wellbeing as well
as our own," says Gary Barker,
President and CEO of Promundo, "During this time, as adults, we
have the opportunity to model how to express fears and concerns,
and how to give and receive comfort and support. Our hope is that
this guidance supports parents as they seek to encourage their
children, particularly their sons, to express and cope with
difficult feelings during this difficult time as well as long
afterwards."
The report recommends actions parents can take, including to:
Talk openly to children about their own fears, uncertainties, and
disappointments, in age-appropriate ways; Take advantage of the
time at home to talk constructively with boys; Acknowledge the
particular challenges boys feel about being vulnerable, and the
courage it takes for them to be open; Reinforce that it's okay to
need help and to ask for it; Seek help for yourself to care for
your mental and physical health; Remember that you are not
alone.
"Perpetuated generation after generation, gender stereotypes
about what it is to be a "real man" – not tolerating the expression
of emotion – have a direct impact on violence against women around
the world. To paraphrase Simone de Beauvoir, 'you are not born a
man, but you become one'. The role of parents, as well as
school, sports and TV, are all essential in building a new concept
of masculinity, based on gender equality," states Céline
Bonnaire, Executive Director of the Kering Foundation.
This report is the first in a series of new research and
resources from the Global Boyhood Initiative, a
project of Promundo and the Kering Foundation.
Access the full report:
promundoglobal.org/fosteringhealthymasculinity
Notes to Editors
About the Research:
This report summarizes the findings of a study exploring what
parents in the US want for their sons, their views toward gender
norms and pressures, along with discussions with boys on the topic
of masculinity. Our findings provide new insights on how parents
can support healthier and more connected, resilient behavior in
their sons.
In the fall of 2019 and early 2020, Promundo and the Kering
Foundation commissioned PerryUndem to conduct survey research and
interviews with parents and with boys themselves on the topic of
masculinity and pressures to live up to certain cultural norms.
This research included:
- In-depth interviews with 16 boys ages 8-16 in California and Pennsylvania. The interviews included boys
from middle- and lower- income families, of diverse ethnicities and
of diverse political leanings; and
- A nationally representative survey with parents of boys ages
4-14 in the US, conducted among 801 parents (mothers and fathers)
from January 2 through 12, 2020 using
YouGov's online panel.
About Promundo
Founded in Brazil in 1997,
Promundo works to promote gender equality and create a world free
from violence by engaging men and boys in partnership with women
and girls and individuals of all gender identities. Promundo is a
global consortium with members in the
United States, Brazil,
Portugal, Chile, and Democratic Republic of the Congo that
collaborate to achieve this mission by conducting cutting-edge
research that builds the knowledge base on masculinities and gender
equality; developing, evaluating, and scaling up high-impact
interventions and programs; and carrying out national and
international campaigns and advocacy initiatives to prevent
violence and promote gender equality. For more information, visit:
www.promundoglobal.org
@Promundo_US
About Kering Corporate Foundation
Worldwide, 1 in 3 women is or will be a victim of violence
during her lifetime. Since 2008, the Kering Foundation combats this
violence that affects all cultures and all social classes. To
maximize its impact, the Foundation works hand in hand with a
limited number of local partners in the three main regions where
the Group operates: the American continent, Western Europe and Asia. The Foundation supports local
survivor-centered organizations that provide comprehensive services
to women, and, since 2018, has begun working with younger
generations, particularly young men and boys, to combat violence
against women through prevention programs. The Foundation also
seeks to change behaviors within Kering and in society in general.
It offers training sessions on domestic violence for Kering
employees and created, in 2018, alongside the FACE Foundation, "One
in Three Women", the first European network of companies engaged
against gender-based violence. The Foundation also organizes
international awareness campaigns, all the while involving Kering's
35,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit:
www.keringfoundation.org
@KeringForWomen
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