Well…it’s been an eventful few days and as I reflect on the recent passing of Cyclone Alfred, I’m grateful that our community has escaped reasonably unscathed. I am, however, mindful of the struggles faced by many both locally, throughout Southeast Queensland and into Northern New South Wales. I pray for their resilience, support and swift recovery during this challenging time.
Four days off has certainly affected our routine and the countless happenings of our busy house here on the Hill have been disrupted. Last week, as an all-boys school we were ready to recognise and celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). Just like NAPLAN and AIC Swimming, acknowledging IWD was postponed; we look forward to supporting this cause, albeit a little delayed.
International Women's Day, celebrated each year on March 8, is a global event dedicated to honouring the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity. In the 21st century, IWD continues to highlight ongoing gender inequalities and celebrates the progress made towards a more inclusive world.
For St Edmund’s as a boys’ school, the importance of IWD is that it raises awareness about issues of gender-based violence, disparity and underrepresentation. By celebrating women's achievements and advocating for their rights, IWD fosters a sense of solidarity and inspires future generations to work toward equality.
With the rise of “anti-woke” movements and social media influencers like Andrew Tate advocating a very skewed view of masculinity, I am conscious that there can be some concerns regarding boys and their future place in society.
To place some perspective on our narrative as education of young men, I’ve recently come across a book by Richard V. Reeves, English writer, social scientist and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
In his book "Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About It”: Reeves makes significant contributions to discussions on social mobility, inequality and especially gender issues for both men and women.
It’s important to note that he writes from an American perspective but to summarise:
- Educational Disparities: Reeves highlights that boys in the United States are lagging behind girls in education. This gap has reversed over the years, with boys now significantly behind girls in obtaining Bachelor degrees.
- Workforce Challenges: Men are falling behind in workforce participation. A changing job market, which values cognitive skills over physical strength, has left many men struggling to adapt.
- Family Roles: Changing the understanding of traditional roles in families and as fathers, can lead to feelings of social confusion. Reeves argues that men need to reimagine their roles within the family to adapt to modern societal change.
- Health and Well-being: Men are disproportionately affected by significant health challenges. These issues are exacerbated by the lack of effective policies to support men and boys.
- Policy Failures: Current policies aimed at helping men and boys are not working. Reeves criticises both political progressives and conservatives for failing to address the crisis effectively. Progressives often ignore the issues facing men and boys, while conservatives tend to advocate for a return to outdated models of masculinity.
- Positive Masculinity: Reeves emphasises that gender equity is not a zero-sum game. He argues for a positive script for masculinity that is compatible with gender equality. This involves supporting boys and men in navigating societal changes and promoting their involvement in gender equity effort.
- Concrete Solutions: Reeves offers several concrete suggestions to help men and boys. These include starting boys in school later than girls, extending their education and reimagining the roles of men in families. He advocates for policies that support both men and women, recognising that true gender equality benefits everyone.
It's in points 6 and 7 that I see close coincidence with what we are trying to do at Eddies. Gender equity is not a “zero-sum game”. It is promoting genuine respect, caring authentic relationships and does not mean losing opportunities for girls or boys.
As a measure of direct action for IWD, this year our Eddies men will raise money for RizeUp. This national organisation works in partnership with domestic violence agencies to enhance the service options they provide.
You may ask why does a boys’ school celebrate IWD? Recognising that we are partners in ensuring equality of opportunity for all and guaranteeing there is a place for good men and good women, is integral to our Mission. Our job is to make sure our young men are able to be independent of us, to confidently “live simply and make a difference”. In countering the concerns of toxic masculinity and an escalating tide of intolerance and disconnection; how much better is it for our Eddies men to be able to stand in a world where regardless of gender, they stand together in love and respect as friends, as partners, as colleagues…as equals.
