In 2024 Aidan Harper a Community learning and development undergraduate student at University of Dundee completed an internship with the East Youth Team at Dundee City Council. Aidan chose to focus his dissertation on young males understanding of masculinity and youth work’s response. Aidan won the Biggest Impact Award in his year at University of Dundee for his time on placement.
There is so much pressure on young people to conform to societal views and gender norms. One of these examples being the concept of masculinity and how men and boys must behave. This practice inquiry project aims to discover what young males understand masculinity to mean and how youth work can respond to this. Specifically, this project is focused within the East End of Dundee, exploring the views around masculinity of young males in primary 7 and third year at high school. It also investigates how youth work can respond to these perceptions and understandings. This was conducted through a series of informal conversations and discussions with young males and a focus group with youth workers.
One of the key findings from the research was that young males understand there is a stigma around masculinity and of the need to behave in a certain way. It also identifies that from these stigmas, there is a pressure they feel from family, friends, and schools to conform to the gender stereotypes as they attempt to ‘fit in’. Based on these understandings, the response from youth work is one that can offer support to young males, so they can achieve their full potential and be who they are. This project concludes that there must be more done with young males to embrace their true self by re-evaluating the term ‘masculinity’ and shape it to have a positive impact on society.
We're here to help with any research enquiries you have. If you are interested in hearing more about the research conducted by the students, contact our Senior Policy & Research Officer Dr Amy Calder.