The manosphere is a loose group of influencers making content aimed at young men. It is often described as a dark corner of the internet where particular views of masculinity and misogyny are promoted.
In last week's newsletter, one of the things I talked about was positive masculinity and supporting our boys to be men of good character. I argued that we need to show boys what is possible to get the best out of them. Collaborating with parents and whānau is a key part of this. To that end, I would like to share two resources with you.
The first is a visual article that was published on the Guardian website this week - Why the manosphere clicked with young men: A visual deep dive.
The manosphere is a loose group of influencers making content aimed at young men. It is often described as a dark corner of the internet where particular views of masculinity and misogyny are promoted.
The success of the show Adolescence, along with concerns about misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, has shone a light on the manosphere. Many parents feel they are not very informed about this. The Guardian's visual guide is a great starting point.
The second resource is a short article by Dr. Ray Swann. Ray works out of the Crowther Centre at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne. I have gotten to know Ray well over the past two years. He leads the Foundation for Positive Masculinity in Australia (+M) and recently visited New Zealand to run a conference with us at Wellington College.
This article is directed towards parents and whānau, and supports you to balance the negative influences our boys are exposed to online, via aggressive algorithms.
The key messages Ray shares are:
Boys often seek peer validation, leading them to act against their values to meet friends' expectations.
Boys constantly strive to prove their masculinity, leading them to challenge boundaries.
Helping boys define positive masculinity can aid them in resisting peer pressure to conform.
You can read the full article here.
As I shared last week, and I fervently believe this, honesty is the disruptor. Curiosity and open and courageous conversation will show our boys what positive masculinity looks like and help them rise above online influences like Andrew Tate.
Dr. Aaron Columbus
Principal | Tumuaki
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