Do you know what the positive masculinity? The idea of a single and hegemonic masculinity that was in force for a long time has disappeared. Now there is talk of different ways of expressing this identity and, among them, the one that encompasses healthy values and behaviors and that favors the construction of more egalitarian societies is positive masculinity.
And, although it is mistakenly thought that this seeks to undermine men to give a leading role to women, what it actually seeks is, regardless of gender, that all people have the same guarantees and contribute to the well-being of both individuals and communities.
How to promote positive masculinity?
Beyond speeches, it is the small actions that can transform societies and raise awareness about the need to leave behind harmful social norms. Below you can learn about some traits of positive masculinity and how to encourage them.
Emotionality and empathy
Have you ever heard that men don’t cry? This is an outdated stereotype that encourages men’s lack of emotionality and aims to show them as unflappable beings who should not show empathy. As humans, it is important that men feel free to express their emotions in a healthy way. Avoiding stigmatization and encouraging empathy contributes to building healthier and more satisfying relationships.
Responsability and compromise
Positive masculinity is also related to the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Promoting responsibility from an early age will help create men who are aware of the consequences of their actions and committed to the well-being of the people around them.
Equality and respect
Beyond a loss of power, rethinking unequal power structures is important for building relationships based on mutual respect and is fundamental to promoting positive masculinity. Building more just and egalitarian societies contributes to collective well-being.
nonviolent communication
For a long time it was thought that man should have the last word and that he should impose his will to maintain order in the various areas of life. However, encouraging respectful communication, dialogue and negotiation instead of verbal or physical aggression is important to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and constructive manner.
Self-care and mental health
Regarding self-care and mental health, you may also have heard that these are signs of weakness in men, which is completely false. For this reason, positive masculinity defends the importance of men taking care of themselves and having the freedom to seek support when they need it and being able to face emotional and mental challenges openly.
Transformational leadership
The authoritarian leadership model in which one person spoke and everyone else obeyed without saying a word stopped working a long time ago. Positive masculinity calls for men to exercise leadership from a place of respect, based on collaboration and with collective well-being as a focus.
Equal Parenting and Parenting
The image of a provider man who was absent from home all the time in order to provide food and satisfy the physical needs of his wife and children was left behind. Positive masculinity implies that the man becomes an active, committed father figure, who shares responsibilities and parenting tasks for the well-being of the family unit.
Building more egalitarian societies is not a task for a few, we need to unite all to be able to leave harmful patterns behind and transform the way we relate. The contribution of each individual is important in order to guarantee collective well-being.
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A collective task
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If you still do not know our Movement, we invite you to visit our digital channels and discover the actions we carry out and the that we share with you to promote comprehensive sexual education and the prevention of sexual abuse.
Additionally, we want you to know the different ways in which you can and join our cause. can make a difference.