Disrupting Ideas That Breed Toxic Masculinity
“Children are born wild. And that’s beautiful, it’s wondrous, regardless of gender,” says Tim Winton in an article that challenges our preconceptions of masculinity. He goes further to say that even in this born-free ‘wild’ state, children have an abundance of tenderness, which sadly turns savage in boys who are neglected or trained to follow society's perceived norms about how men should behave.
So as a primary and junior preschool and parents, how do we break the mould of imposed masculinity and reconnect our boys to their intrinsic empathy in order to become future leaders?
Boys Need Help In Order To Become Pillars Of Society
Any parent of boys or educator who has worked with young boys will be aware that they have beautiful, unique qualities and the potential to achieve greatness in both thought and action. Boys make us laugh, have a curious way of seeing the world, and yet also have a deep, stoic strength that is truly admirable.
Unfortunately, boys are also the ones getting into trouble the most. As they grow up, many end up filling our prisons and facing the disapproving glare of the law.
Visionary author Tim Winton creates awareness of how society is responsible for creating a toxic masculinity that is violent and uncaring through its suppression of empathy and emotional intelligence in boys. He proposes that instead of coiling away in disgust from misguided men, instead of harsh punishments and judgments, we need to reconsider our expectations of boys and how we nurture them as parents, educators and society.
More than anything, boys need help, understanding and emotionally safe environments so they can develop into the leaders we need them to be in the future.
Should Boys’ Schools Feed Into Toxic Masculinity?
Boys’ schools form a crucial source of life preparation for boys outside of the home. But are schools also guilty of feeding into toxic masculinity? In light of criticism against boys' schools that promote harsh practices such as initiation and counterproductive punishments, new research shows that boys must feel supported, inspired and challenged in the school environment to allow whole-boy development.
At The Ridge School, we grow young boys to be emotionally attuned to themselves and to the people around them in order to reduce harmful and destructive behaviours. Through our positive school culture, climate and character, we create a sense of brotherhood in which boys can express themselves openly, feel accepted, and rise to their full potential in healthy ways.
Contact the Ridge School ‒ private primary and junior preschool in Johannesburg ‒ to enrol your child for an empowered, holistic education. Watch our Headmaster and Deputy Head discuss the modern approach to masculinity in this podcast.