While empowering women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals remains a cornerstone of gender-based violence (GBV) work, boys and male-identifying youth also play a key role in the prevention of GBV. Providing boys and male-identifying youth with opportunities to explore their identities, reflect on their own understandings of masculinity, and advocate for gender equality are some of the ways they can be allies in advocating for transforming social norms. Part of this work includes recognizing and resisting harmful stereotypical conceptions and constructions of masculinity and femininity (i.e. the gender binary) imposed by patriarchal masculinities that youth are often exposed to from a young age.
Patriarchal masculinities is a term that can be used to describe those ideas and practices that promote unequal gender norms in society by asserting men and boys’ superiority and domination over female-identifying, gender-diverse, and other male-identified individuals. Such ideas and practices maintain gender inequalities and fuel the perpetration of all forms of GBV.
To counter the proliferation of patriarchal masculinities, advance gender equality and gender equity and end GBV, it is crucial that boys and male-identifying youth be inspired by and adopt healthy and equitable alternatives.