Healthy masculinity is about helping our sons embrace positive traits and behaviours that contribute to their own wellbeing and that of society.
It is not about force-fitting our boys into strict or unhelpful gender stereotypes; rather it is about promoting values and traits such as empathy, respect, emotional intelligence and a sense of responsibility.
Here are 6 ways we can build such positive character traits in our boys.
Have regular conversations with your son about his day, feelings, and experiences. This helps build trust and openness.
Practice active listening whenever he wishes to talk. When we give them our full attention, we are showing them that they are valued and important to us.
Point out positive male role models in your community or in the media who demonstrate healthy masculinity.
Where possible, dads should lead by example. Show your son what healthy masculinity looks like through your actions and behaviour.
Let your son know that it’s okay to express his feelings. Encourage him to talk about his emotions and listen without judgment.
We should also normalise that to be human is to experience a range of emotions, sometimes even a few emotions all at once! Share your own feelings and how you deal with them, whether it’s sadness, anger, or frustration over a work situation.
Help your son understand the importance of empathy. Discuss how our actions can affect others and encourage him to consider other people’s feelings.
Show compassion in your own actions. Volunteer together or engage in activities that involve helping others, whether it’s befriending a new neighbour who has just moved in, or helping an elderly with groceries.
Talk about the importance of being honest and owning up to mistakes at the dinner table. Encourage your child to take responsibility for his actions.
Give him chores to take on at home, especially during the holidays. Also, be intentional to share news stories or everyday examples of people who demonstrate responsibility and integrity in their lives.
Last but not least, it is great practice as a family to discuss media messages whenever we encounter positive or negative examples of masculinity. Talk about such news or images over mealtimes or when your child is relaxed and ready to engage.
As parents, we can help our children think critically about what we see on the media, rather than passively consuming ideas or images that are unhealthy or harmful.
Cultivating healthy masculinity involves encouraging boys to be empathetic, respectful, helpful to others and emotionally expressive. By actively talking about and demonstrating these values in our daily lives, we can help our boys develop into well-rounded individuals who live purposeful and gracious lives in the future.
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