First Minister kickstarts conversation to promote a positive
vision for a fairer society.
First Minister has held a roundtable with
practitioners and leaders who are working to promote positive
masculinity in their broader approach to achieving equality
across our communities.
This involves highlighting to boys and men the benefits that
positive masculinity can provide for their everyday lives
including mental health and wellbeing as well as positive
relations. It also includes highlighting the harm that can be
caused by negative behaviours associated with ‘toxic masculinity’
which may also manifest itself in sexism, misogyny and abuse or
violence against women and girls.
In his Programme for Government speech, the First Minister
committed to leading on this issue.
First Minister said:
“I am committed to leading on this issue as I believe it’s
important to have a vision for masculinity that is uplifting and
positive so the negative male role models we are all aware of can
be challenged.
“If we can promote positive masculinity, then we address deep
rooted inequalities in our society, and tackle the root cause of
violence against women and girls, namely abusive behaviour
perpetrated by men.
“We need to create the safe spaces for boys and men to come
together to talk, without judgement about the challenges they
face, the anxieties they have and to talk about the positive male
identity.
“We need to be aware of the outcomes for boys of not having this:
educational outcomes, mental health and relationships can all be
affected at both personal and societal level. Having a vision of
positive masculinity, and adequate support for boys and young
men, can support them to have better outcomes, and can also
benefit all of society including helping to reduce abuse and
violence.
“I look forward to continue working to achieve a vison of a
fairer and more equal society.”
