Addressing the impact of Masculinity Influencers on Teenage Boys A guide for schools, teachers and parents/guardians

Other type

Author(s):
Anti-Bullying Centre , Catherine Baker , Cyberhate and Online Harassment , Darragh McCashin , Dublin City University , Fiona O’Rourke , The Observatory on Cyberbullying

Year: 2024
Language(s): English

This resource aims to provide schools, teachers and educators with guidance on how to address the impact of these online masculinity influencers on young people, particularly teenage boys (aged 13-18), via educational interventions and initiatives, which include having critical discussions with them about this topic. Although this information may not be directly actionable for parents considering one-on-one discussions about this topic with their child, the overall guidance may still be helpful for those preparing for such discussions. Critically, the guidance outlined in this resource recognises that the harmful ideologies, attitudes and behaviours promoted by online masculinity influencers are part of a broader network or ‘ecosystem’ of spaces in our society and culture that have historically maintained and reproduced gendered power dynamics and inequalities (see figure 14). In other words, they are not online only phenomena, but are rather current manifestations of these gendered dynamics and inequalities, which change over time. Therefore, discussions about specific online masculinity influencers in this resource should be taken as a proxy for similar content that may arise in our society and culture in the future. Moreover, this resource cautions against attributing the harms associated with online masculinity influencers solely to digital technologies and social media in discussions with young people about this topic. Instead, it advocates a balanced approach to these discussions, which acknowledges the potential harms and positive benefits of social media in ways that aim to support young people in safely navigating these spaces. This guidance comprises three main sections: • First, it provides introductory information about online masculinity influencers who promote harmful ideologies, attitudes and behaviours, the ‘ecosystem’ that underpins and supports them and the impact they are having on children and young people from all gendered backgrounds, including teenage boys, which is based on secondary research. • Second, it identifies the implications this research has for understanding and responding to the impact these online masculinity influencers are having on children and young people, particularly teenage boys, via educational interventions. • Third, it presents practical guidance to schools, teachers and educators on how to facilitate critical discussions about online masculinity influencers with teenage boys, which may also be helpful for parents/guardians who are preparing to have such discussions with their child/children. Guidelines on how schools can build a culture that promotes healthy, respectful and equitable online and offline relationships, which challenge and change the harmful cultures that underpin and support online masculinity influencers, are also explored.

https://antibullyingcentre.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DCU-Influencer-Resource.pdf

Post created by: Lymor Wolf Goldstein