The Archwell Foundation, led by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, has recently announced its partnership with Equimundo’s Global Boyhood Initiative.
This collaboration aims to challenge and redefine the mainstream definition of masculinity.
The initiative focuses on improving boyhood experiences by promoting healthy emotional expression, positive connections, advocating for equality, and breaking free from gender stereotypes.
One of the key goals of this partnership is to eliminate the commonly used phrase, “boys will be boys,” which the organization believes perpetuates problematic gender norms.
According to them, gender is not a fixed and stable construct, but rather a fluid and evolving concept with multiple variations of masculinity.
In 2022, the Global Boyhood Initiative published a report titled “The State of UK Boys,” which sheds light on the impact of institutions and adults in shaping masculinity.
The report highlights that gender roles are imposed on children even before they are born and are often reinforced within the household.
To address this issue, the initiative proposes a curriculum that challenges gender norms and stereotypes.
Currently, the curriculum is being piloted in primary schools in London, with the hope of eventually incorporating it into relationships and s** education classes across the country.
The curriculum encourages children between the ages of 7 and 11 to explore equitable and non-violent attitudes, norms, and behaviors in a safe environment.
The aim is for children to internalize these new attitudes and apply them in their daily lives.
Maggie Blythe, who leads the National Police Chiefs Council efforts to combat violence against women and girls, has called for primary schools to educate children about boundaries, online safety, and the influence of toxic individuals to prevent future predatory behavior.
However, the Global Boyhood Initiative has faced criticism from Conservative MP Miriam Cates.
Cates expressed concern that the initiative intends to train young children as agents for change and social justice, which she views as indoctrination.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their partnership with Equimundo’s Global Boyhood Initiative in November 2022.
Since then, they have collaborated on a guide that promotes gender equity by fostering positive masculinity in boys and men.
The Archwell Foundation emphasized Equimundo’s work to promote healthy and equitable masculinity from an early age in a statement on their website.
They also highlighted the harmful effects of labeling individuals and how this can impact society’s treatment of different genders.
It is important to note that the Archwell Foundation is not directly involved in the curriculum program developed by the Global Boyhood Initiative.
The impact report released by Archwell earlier this year revealed that 3,673 individuals accessed their resource guide titled “Embracing Positive Masculinity” in collaboration with Equimundo.
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