MP Warns Parliament of Harmful Effects of ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Narrative on Boys
There was a request from another MP for the government to consider setting up a taskforce and conducting research to address the gender attainment gap in schools and enhance the career opportunities of young men.
During a parliamentary debate on boys’ educational performance, an MP raised concerns about the negative portrayal of masculinity and its impact on young men. The MP highlighted issues such as a higher dropout rate among boys, particularly suicide being a leading cause of death for men under 50.
The MP expressed gratitude for not being a young man today due to the negative messaging surrounding masculinity, which can confuse young men about their identity and behavior.
Concerns were also raised about the imbalance in educational attainment between boys and girls, with statistics showing that boys lag behind in various subjects and are less likely to attend university compared to girls of the same age.
The debate emphasized the need for political leadership to address the gender attainment gap and called for initiatives to promote boys’ academic success. Suggestions were made for Ofsted to evaluate schools based on their efforts to bridge the attainment gap and for the government to establish a taskforce to address these issues.
In addition, challenges faced by working-class individuals in accessing certain professions were highlighted, with concerns raised about the lack of diversity in fields like medicine and law. The government acknowledged the need to improve outcomes for all children, including boys, and reiterated its commitment to providing quality education for every child.
The debate also touched on the impact of terms like “white privilege” on the performance of white working-class students in schools, with reports suggesting that such language may contribute to disparities in educational outcomes. The findings underscored the need to address educational inequalities based on socioeconomic background and ethnicity to ensure equal opportunities for all students.
