Masculinity in Crisis

Where do we begin

Statistics

Males commit 80% of all crimes
Boys comprise 95% of kids involved in juvenile court
94% of all prisoners are male
Males are 5 times more likely to commit suicide than females
Boys are 6 times more likely to have learning difficulties
Over 50% of Qld children under 12 use child care services
90% of custodial parents are female
Over 1 million children in Australia live in broken homes
$6 Billion is spent annually on Crime & Justice, $4 Billion being policing alone
Fatherlessness in our nation costs the tax payer approximately $13 Billion per year
80% of overdose deaths were males in 1998
60 000 calls were made to Men's Line, a male only call centre in the first year of operation
Only 52% of men aged 55 - 64 in 1993 were still in the work force
The Australian primary education system has only 21% male teachers
80% of students suspended or excluded from school are boys

How Do We Begin

a) Start with Men
Without suitable mentors, the training of boys will not take place.

Dr Robert Lewis, author and manhood trainer, has found that:

Men need a safe place where they know someone understands them and they are not alone.
Men need time to effectively process their manhood.
Men need practical how-to's they can use and taste success with.
Men need male cheerleaders.

Men need to be educated about themselves through weekend retreats, weekly seminars and work place training. Education through a self-awareness process needs to happen before men can see a need to positively input into younger men. If these personal development training courses are tax deductible for the participants, then more men may be willing to begin the journey into Authentic Manhood for themselves and subsequent mentors would emerge.

b) High School Boys
Author George Gilder, in his book 'Men and Marriage', writes "wise societies provide ample means for young men to affirm themselves without afflicting others."

If programs begin with grade 8's at the beginning of the year before the peer group is well established, then positive peer groups have a greater chance of being formed. Small groups allow boys the place and space for relationships to develop at a deeper level in a short space of time, giving everyone an opportunity to connect with themselves nd each other.

School culture can change positively if continuous, encouraging and affirming relationships can be developed over the years that boys are in high school. Character can be developed over time, so that each boy can become a positive member of the school and wider community. By the end of year 12 boys should have the opportunity to begin the process of acquiring honour, a vision for manhood, a code of conduct to live by and a cause to live for.

c) Communities
There is an untapped resource of retired men in the community and retirement villages who could add value to their lives by being mentors. Retirees are a resource of incredible experience that could have a significant input into the lives of high school aged boys.

Communities need to have local people teaching local people so that relationships within the community can continue to develop. Business and workplace participation is needed to create financial and personnel resources.

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