Key resources

The resources below are suggested as potential starting points for further exploring and discussing issues around gendered social norms and masculinity. Again, this list is not intended to be comprehensive, but offers a range of additional materials which may be useful tools for those working with men and boys or interested in finding out more about specific issues related to masculine gender norms.

Theory of social and gender norms

• Cislaghi, B. and Heise, L.C. (2016) Measuring gender-related social norms. Technical Report. London: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4646972
• Kedia, S. and Verma R. (2019) Gender norms and masculinities. London: ALIGN Platform - https://www.alignplatform.org/masculinities-guide
• Marcus, R. and Harper, C. (2015) How do gender norms change? London: Overseas Development Institute - https://odi.org/en/publications/how-do-gender-norms-change/

Social and gender norms in practice

• Advertising Standards Authority (2017) Depictions, perceptions and harm: Report on gender stereotypes in advertising. Summary report. London: Advertising Standards Authority - https://www.asa.org.uk/genderresearch.html
• Culhane L. and Bazeley A. (2019) Gender stereotypes in early childhood: A literature review. London: Fawcett Society - https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/gender-stereotypes-in-early-childhood-a-literature-review
• Edström, J., Hassink, A., Shahrokh T. and Stern E. (eds.) (2015) Engendering men: A collaborative review of evidence on men and boys in social change and gender equality. EMERGE Evidence Review. Promundo-US, Sonke Gender Justice and Institute of Development Studies - https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/7059
• Heilman, B., Barker, G. and Harrison, A. (2017) The “man box”: A study on being a man in the US, UK, and Mexico. Washington, DC and London: Promundo-US and Unilever - https://promundoglobal.org/resources/man-box-study-young-man-us-uk-mexico/
• Heilman, B. and Barker, G. (2018) Masculine norms and violence: Making the connections. Washington, DC: Promundo-US - https://promundoglobal.org/resources/masculine-norms-violence-making-connections/
• Heilman, B., Guerrero-López, C. M., Ragonese, C., Kelberg, M. and Barker, G. (2019) The cost of the man box: A study on the economic impacts of harmful masculine stereotypes in the United States. Washington, DC: Promundo-US and Unilever. https://promundoglobal.org/resources/the-cost-of-the-man-box-a-study-on-the-economic-impacts-of-harmful-masculine-stereotypes-in-the-united-states/
• Jackson, D. (2016) Exploring Ageing Masculinities: The Body, Sexuality, and Social Lives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137527578
• Jennett, M. (2013) Breaking the mould: Challenging gender stereotypes. London: National Education Union - https://neu.org.uk/breaking-mould
• Ragonese, C., Shand, T. and Barker, G. (2018) Masculine norms and men’s health: Making the connections. Washington, DC: Promundo-US - https://promundoglobal.org/resources/masculine-norms-and-mens-health-making-the-connections/
• Samaritans (2012) Men and suicide: Why it’s a social issue. Ewell: Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/middle-aged-men-suicide/
• van der Gaag, N., Heilman, B., Gupta, T., Nembhard, C. and Barker, G. (2019) State of the world’s fathers: Unlocking the power of men’s care, Washington, DC: Promundo-US - https://promundoglobal.org/resources/state-of-the-worlds-fathers-unlocking-the-power-of-mens-care/
• World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe (2018) The health and well-being of men in the WHO European Region: Better health through a gender approach. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe - https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/the-health-and-well-being-of-men-in-the-who-european-region-better-health-through-a-gender-approach-2018

Working with men and boys

• EMERGE Practice Brief (2015) Lessons in good practice from work with men and boys for gender equality. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice - https://menandboys.ids.ac.uk/files/emerge-practice-brief-lessons-good-practice-work-men-and-boys-gender-equality
• Featherstone, B., Rivett, M. and Scourfield J. (2007) Working with Men in Health and Social Care. London: Sage.
• Flood, M. (2019) Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan - https://xyonline.net/content/new-book-engaging-men-and-boys-violence-prevention
• International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) (2018) It only works when everyone plays. Washington, DC: ICRW - https://www.icrw.org/publications/gender-equity-male-engagement/
• Marcus, R. (2018) Programming to promote gender-equitable masculinities among adolescent boys: Key findings from a rigorous review. Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence. London: Overseas Development Institute - https://www.gage.odi.org/publication/masculinities-among-adolescent-boys-policy-brief/
• Plan International and Promundo (2019) 9 tips for parents: Raising sons to embrace healthy positive masculinity. Warwick, RI: Plan International USA - https://promundoglobal.org/resources/9-tips-for-parents-raising-sons-to-embrace-healthy-positive-masculinity/
• Rus Funk Consulting (2019) Range of materials (including some free to access) on engaging with men and boys and promoting healthy masculinities created by US activist and community organiser Rus Funk - http://www.rusfunk.me
• Ruxton S. (ed.) (2004) Gender equality and men: Learning from practice. Oxford: Oxfam GB - https://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/gender-equality-and-men-learning-from-practice-133968
• Willis, P., Vickery, A., Hammond, J. and Jessiman, T. (2019) Older men at the margins: Guidance for practitioners and services providing groups for older men. Bristol and London: University of Bristol and Age UK - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/policy-research/older-men-at-the-margins-how-men-combat-loneliness-in-later-life/

Popular accounts of masculinity and being a man

• Asher, R. (2016) Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules. London: Harvill Secker.
• Barber R., Blake V., Hearn J., Jackson D., Johnson R., Zbyszek L. and McEwan D. (2016) Men’s Stories for a Change: Ageing Men Remember. The Older Men’s Memory Work Group. Champaign, IL: Common Ground Publishing.
• Hemmings, C. (2017) Be a Man: How Macho Culture Damages Us and How to Escape It. London: Biteback Publishing.
• Jackson, D. (2016) Unmasking Masculinity: A Critical Autobiography. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Perry, G. (2017) The Descent of Man. London: Penguin.
• Pinkett, M., Roberts, M. (2019) Boys Don't Try? Rethinking Masculinity in Schools, Abingdon: Routledge.
• Urwin, J. (2017) Man Up: Surviving Modern Masculinity. London: Icon Books.
• Webb, R. (2017) How Not to Be a Boy. Edinburgh: Canongate Books.

Videos for discussion

• Axe: “Is it okay for guys…” - on how men have been told to behave, and the questions men ask - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WySfa7x5q0
• Good Lad Initiative: Working with boys in schools on gender norms - https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/why-the-phrase-man-up-is-so-destructive/p06sdqg6/player
• Jackson Katz: Violence against women - it's a men's issue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvSfeCRxe8
• MenCare: A Global Fatherhood Campaign - https://men-care.org/resources/?type=videos
• MenEngage Alliance: Male and female voices around the world on why gender equality matters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVlnNplYQ7A&t=2s
• Open University: ‘Beyond Male Role Models’ project - http://wels.open.ac.uk/research/beyond-male-role-models/beyond-male-role-models-project-video
• Samaritans: Real People, Real Stories Campaign to encourage men to seek help - https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/real-people-real-stories/
• Thames Valley Police: Consent and tea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ
• Tony Porter: A call to men (on the Man Box) - https://www.ted.com/talks/tony_porter_a_call_to_men?language=en
• University of Bristol/Age UK: Videos on older men who are single or living alone; gay men and loneliness in later life; and older male carers and loneliness - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/policy-research/older-men-at-the-margins-how-men-combat-loneliness-in-later-life/
• White Ribbon Canada: Boys Don’t Cry campaign - https://www.whiteribbon.ca/boysdontcry.html