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The American Psychological Association released its first guidelines for practice with men and boys, labeling traditional masculinity as a harmful ideology linked to homophobia and harassment. It defines traditional masculinity by traits like stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression, and argues socializing boys to suppress emotions causes damage. The guidelines connect these norms to behavioral issues such as harassment and academic neglect, noting campus efforts to counter toxic masculinity, including programs at Duke University. The report implies a broader shift in mental health and education policy, with ongoing implications for how men’s well-being and conduct are addressed going forward.
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The guidelines were issued internally last August and have only recently been made public, marking the first formal APA effort to address practice with men and boys.
Traditional masculinity is described as an ideology characterized by anti-femininity, achievement, avoiding weakness, and seeking risk and violence, with a combination of standards affecting large population segments.
The document argues that socializing boys to hide emotions leads to psychological harm that manifests both inwardly and outwardly, influencing behavior and mental health.
It links masculine norms to real-world outcomes such as increased harassment of girls, fighting, and bullying of peers perceived as less masculine, rather than academic achievement.
The piece notes academic and campus responses to address these norms, illustrating the issue with examples like initiatives at Duke University to root out toxic masculinity on campus.
Overall, the guidelines aim to shift clinical and educational practices toward recognizing and mitigating the harms associated with rigid masculine norms, signaling potential policy and programmatic changes in how men’s health and conduct are understood.