Eight campaigns making a difference as Sir Gareth Southgate warns of 'toxic' influencers
Sir Gareth Southgate has addressed "the unrelenting impact of social media" explaining that boys and young men need positive role models beyond "toxic" online influencers.
In a talk for the BBC's annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture, the ex-England men's football manager spoke about how the UK needs to do more to encourage young people, particularly young men, to make the right choices in life.
Titled, The Beautiful Game: Building Belief and Resilience in a Younger Generation, Sir Gareth used the address to discuss the influence of social media and the impact it is having on the lives of boys and young men.
“There’s one topic that keeps being brought to my attention. And it’s parents who keep raising it,” Sir Gareth said. “Young men are suffering. They are feeling isolated. They’re grappling with their masculinity and with their broader place in society."
Rather than turning to traditional role models inside and outside of their home, such as teachers, coaches or youth workers, Sir Gareth said he feared many young men were searching for guidance online, but the influences they find online often "do not have their best interests at heart".
“They spend more time online searching for direction and are falling into unhealthy alternatives like gaming, gambling and pornography,” Sir Gareth continued. "And this void is filled by a new kind of role model who do not have their best interest at heart."
Sir Gareth described the mentors boys find online as "callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain."
"They willingly trick young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, never showing emotion, and that the world – including women – is against them," he continued. "They are as far away as you could possibly get from the role models our young men need in their lives."
While Sir Gareth's speech highlighted a number of issues facing boys and young men today, there are a number of charities, organisations and initiatives trying to address the problems head on. From educating boys and young men on the importance of gender equality and tackling misogyny, to providing safe spaces to open up about mental health, here are some of the initiatives making a difference to the lives of young men and boys today.
Future Men
Future Men is specialist charity that supports boys and men along the path to "becoming dynamic future men, whilst addressing the stereotypes around masculinity and engaging in the wider conversation about what it means to be a man".
"We support boys and men from childhood to 25+ to help them improve their mental health and wellbeing, and guide them to become dynamic and healthy future men," the site explains.
Through the charity's practice-led services, boys are encouraged to explore, celebrate and build on the seven characteristics it believes contribute to "positive masculinity", which include resilience, inclusiveness, reflectiveness, empathy, resourcefulness, curiosity and non-violence.
"From structured school programmes to individual bespoke one-to-one sessions and outreach work, we provide the vital support and advocacy that changes boys and men’s lives for the better," the site explains.
Progressive Masculinity
Mike Nicholson, a former English teacher, runs Progressive Masculinity, which organises workshops for children as young as nine, during a six-hour programme over two days.
The programme is designed "to challenge outdated models of masculinity and promote a healthier, more open-minded perspective," the website reveals.
"Our approach is based on creating safe, non-judgmental spaces where boys and men can explore their masculinity," the site continues. "We focus on supporting them through the transition from adolescence to manhood by empowering them to construct models of masculinity that align with their values. This enables them to become the kind of men, friends, partners, and fathers that the world needs."
The workshop involves asking pupils what they believe are the "unwritten rules" of being a man, such as driving a fast car or having a certain kind of job.
"We then reflect on these rules and ask: ‘Do we think this is the way to a happy life?’ I’m drawing things out and opening space for discussion," he told The Times.
White Ribbon
The charity White Ribbon is working to help engage men and boys to end violence against women and girls. "Our aim is to prevent men’s violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes," the site explains. "We work with men and boys to change long-established, and harmful, attitudes, systems and behaviours around rigid gender norms and masculinity that perpetuate inequality and violence."
The charity says its work, which involves raising awareness, educating and campaigning to bring about change, aims at being preventative not reactive: "We want to stop violence before it starts," the site explains.
'Maaate' campaign
Launched in 2023 by The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and backed by comedian Romesh Ranganathan and presenter Max Selwood, this campaign aims to help men and boys confidently step-in when they witness language and behaviour towards women and girls that crosses the line.
The campaign was launched following research finding two in three men want to intervene when they hear misogynistic language, but don’t know what to say. The research also found that shaming friends is not an effective strategy and the most effective way to challenge inappropriate behaviour is from a place of respect for the friendship.
"The Mayor has teamed up with world-leading behavioural scientists to develop a simple intervention to empower men to step in when needed," a release about the campaign explains. "‘Maaate’ is the small and familiar word chosen to make a big difference and support men and boys in challenging the sexist behaviours and misogynistic attitudes that can lead to women feeling unsafe and being at risk of male violence."
Beyond Equality
Formerly the Good Lad Initiative, this educational organisation works by helping to engage men and boys in conversations about rethinking masculinities and creating gender equality via workshops in schools, universities and workplaces. During each workshop young men and boys can open up, talk about sensitive topics, and learn from the experiences of others.
"There's a need and an opportunity in the UK to engage men in a brave and transformative rethinking of what 'being a man' means for them and others," explains managing director, Daniel Guinness. "We need to engage all men in preventing gender based violence and creating communities that are safe for everyone."
#YesAllMen
This collective was established following the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 to help men talk, think, take responsibility for and take action to challenge negative cultures which lead to sexism, misogyny, patriarchy and violence.
Andy's Man Club
Andy's Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free to attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. Each group session offers men the opportunity to open up about the stresses affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment.
Robbie Williams who has regularly discussed his own battles with mental health previously said the organisation’s work has "blown me away".
"I’m only here because I talked. I’m only here because I asked for help and then took it," he wrote to the charity, which shared the singer's message in a post on Instagram. "Thankfully the stigma around mental health is coming down but I realise for a lot of men in particular there is still a long way to go."
From Boys to Men Project
The From Boys to Men project has helped 411 boys and young men explore "positive masculinity" and encourage improvement to gender-related behaviours and attitudes.
The project, delivered in primary and high schools, brings groups of young boys together to take part in a six week programme where they have been educated on the importance of good male role models and attributes, healthy relationships and controlling emotions, feelings and attitude.
Read more about parenting:
Does the internet's impact on boys' attitudes to women worry you? Have your say (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Adolescence viewers are focusing on the wrong thing (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
What can be done to tackle misogyny (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
