A guided opportunity to focus on optimising strategic, supportive interventions with boys and young men. This masterclass will, through an exploration of the social norms and influences that inform many boys’ and young men’s understandings of how they should ‘be a man’, pursue connections between multiple pressing issues: misogyny, sexism, healthy relationships, male mental health and young males’ vulnerability to criminality and radicalisation – issues that are rarely addressed in a holistic way.
Recent high-profile cases like that of Andrew Tate will be explored for what they can illustrate of wider, deep-rooted, and longstanding issues which have gone unaddressed for too long. We will discuss approaches to constructively engaging boys and young men in dialogues relating to their own physical, emotional and psychological safety in ways which support them in understanding their role in promoting the safety of others – that of their male peers and of women and girls.
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This session will enable you to:
- Gain confidence from knowing that constructive work can be done effectively in emotive areas
- Avoid common pitfalls in initial approaches
- Acquire skills in sustaining constructive dialogues with urgent social relevance
- Contribute to positive cultural shift with colleagues
- Contextualise a range of problematic and beliefs that you encounter in your work
- Think strategically around issues which can often engender ‘knee-jerk’ responses
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
School leaders, DSL and DDSL, Pastoral leads, Social Workers, Youth Justice Workers, Mental Health workers, Healthy Relationships specialists, Police Officers – and all who feel they’d like to gain confidence in this area.
