A new anti-bullying resource guide aimed at combating toxic masculinity in Irish schools has been launched by the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre.
The guide, which was launched during a webinar event in November, provides guidance to schools, teachers and parents/guardians on how to address the impact of online masculinity influencers and associated content on children and young people, particularly teenage boys.
Dr Darragh McCashin and Dr Catherine Baker from Dublin City University collaborated with Dr Fiona O'Rourke on the new guide.
The guidance in the report covers three main sections. It begins with introductory information about online masculinity influencers who promote harmful ideologies, attitudes and behaviours and the ‘ecosystem’ that underpins and supports them along with the impact they are having on children and young people from all gendered backgrounds.
It goes on to identify the implications this research has for understanding and responding to the impact these online masculinity influencers are having on children and young people, particularly teenage boys, via educational interventions.
Finally, it presents practical guidance to schools, teachers and educators on how to facilitate critical discussions about online masculinity influencers with teenage boys, which may also be helpful for parents/guardians who are preparing to have such discussions with their child/children.
The multidisciplinary research team were supported by an advisory board featuring DCU researchers Prof Debbie Ging, who has published extensively on the subject including a report on algorithmic bias towards misogynistic content earlier this year, Prof Jane Suiter, and Dr Nigel Mulligan.
The resource emerged from a project conducted by researchers at the Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate & Online Harassment, Anti-Bullying Centre, Dublin City University, Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Justice.
DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC), a national university designated research centre located within DCU’s Institute of Education, is known globally for its research excellence in bullying and online safety.
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