About our engagement with schools
We know that adolescents often feel pressure to behave in a certain way. For boys, this is often about conforming to masculine stereotypes. We also know that boys who agree with these stereotypes are more likely to engage in harmful behaviours and have poor wellbeing, including:
- Perpetrating bullying
- Performing poorly in school
- Being involved in physical violence
- Abusing drugs and alcohol
- Engaging in risky behaviours
- Having poor mental health, and
- Engage in sexual harassment.
Our values and approach
The Men’s Project approaches this work with a curious mind. Everyone can play a role in creating safe, respectful and accountable communities by questioning ingrained notions about gender and masculinity. We take a no ‘blame and shame’ approach, we don’t believe that masculinity is toxic, and we want to meaningfully engage young men in these important conversations.
We seek to build awareness to the masculine pressures and expectations from the Man Box and highlight the impacts and build the skills and confidence to challenge these behaviours and attitudes within our selves and others.
We regularly refine our programs to reflect the most up-to-date research about what works to create gender equality and reduce the use of violence and other harmful behaviours.
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Our programs for schools
Our evidence-based programs challenge harmful norms about gender to improve attitudes, wellbeing, and behaviour. Our resources and workshops have been designed to align with the Victorian Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships Curriculum.
Workshops
Our workshops begin with staff to introduce them to the pressures that men and boys can feel to behave and act out societal expectations of masculinity. We highlight the impacts of these pressures, and ways we can work together to help move away from harmful attitudes and behaviours. Our workshops aim to build awareness, open conversation and skills to adopt healthier habits and develop healthier identities.
After working with staff, we offer both student and parent workshops to open conversations about gender norms, expectations and pressures men and boys feel about how they should act in relation to the societal pressures of masculinity. The workshops are tailored to the audience and appropriate for each audience.
Curriculum resources
Our lesson pack ‘pursing healthier identities’ is an interactive and discussion-based unit which looks at gender stereotypes, masculinity, healthier identities, character strengths, healthier relationships and ways to take action. The unit comes with teacher notes, PowerPoint slides and student handouts.
We have also produced a video series with ClickView education that you can access through ClickView Education platform.
If you are an education institution you can access these videos and teaching resources on ClickView Education.
If you are not part of an education institution and require access to the The Men’s Project ‘Healthier Masculinities’ videos, please complete the form below.
Modelling Respect and Equality for schools and their community
Our Modelling Respect and Equality program is designed for school staff with a particular interest in role modelling healthier alternatives to the ‘Man Box’. It supports staff to deepen their understanding of what may be driving challenging student behaviour, and increases their knowledge, skills and confidence to lead change.