Unemployment disproportionately affects marginalised young men, making it crucial that we understand their perspectives on manhood and identity. These views often influence their job aspirations and ability to secure work that offers stability and a fair income. By examining these factors, we can better support their journey toward success in the workforce, including considering career opportunities in social care, a sector where young men are notably underrepresented. 

The Evolution of Masculinity

The world is changing, leading to a re-examination of manhood. The traditional idea of a strong, silent man who refrains from showing emotion has received increased attention as we recognise the harmful effect of these behaviours on men’s ability to discuss issues such as health problems. Consequently, there is a growing call to promote positive expressions of masculinity. 

Understanding Marginalised Young Men

Marginalised working-class young men are often portrayed as the bearers of negative styles of manhood. Frequently labelled as regressive, they are often associated with what is termed “protest masculinity”. This type of masculinity is thought to emerge from poverty and diminished societal opportunity, leading to behaviours related to toxic masculinity, such as homophobia, sexism, and emotional suppression, along with negative attitudes towards education and manual employment aspirations. 

This form of masculinity has traditionally been viewed mainly as incompatible with expressions of emotion, including empathy, compassion, and deference, qualities commonly linked to women. As a result, jobs that require these attributes, such as caregiving roles, have been seen as off-limits for men who adhere to rigid definitions of masculinity. However, ideas about what it means to be a man change over time. As a result, the types of work considered acceptable for men also change. 

Societal Change

Movements like #MeToo have started a broader cultural examination of masculinity, emphasising the emotional toll of toxic masculinity on men’s mental health. This discussion encourages men to embrace emotional expression and intimacy. Additionally, media portrayals are increasingly showcasing softer versions of manhood, such as men caring for children and openly expressing their affection. This representation, particularly on social media, can serve as a tool to promote positive expressions of masculinity. 

Despite these positive shifts, marginalised young working-class men are often viewed through a deficit lens that highlights their negative behaviours. While this perspective rightly highlights harmful conduct, it often overlooks positive expressions of masculinity or dismisses them as mere performances. This oversight misses the opportunity to foster meaningful behavioural change. 

This is a missed opportunity, especially in light of societal changes in work opportunities. Jobs traditionally associated with masculinity, such as manual labour, are declining and predicted to continue decreasing with advancements in new technologies and automation. At the same time, the demand for social care is likely to increase due to an ageing population, while there is a shortage of healthcare staff. 

Research Insights and Future Opportunities

While acknowledging negative expressions of masculinity, my research has aimed to move beyond a deficit lens. The deficit approach, which mainly focuses on negative masculine behaviours, can invertedly reinforce marginalisation. Additionally, persistent negative portrayals of working-class masculinity may lead to the internalisation of stereotypes, ultimately hindering positive expressions of manhood and condemning disadvantaged young men to a future devoid of hope. By ignoring the identification of positive expressions of masculinity, we overlook valuable opportunities to encourage behaviour that could enhance life chances, promote involvement in social care work, and provide broader societal benefits. 

Therefore, by incorporating elements of a strength-based approach and partly focusing on positive expressions of manhood, my research focused on a group of marginalised young men aged 13-21 from a former coal mining community in the South Wales Valleys, UK, known for its traditional ideas of masculinity, such as being strong and tough. 

I talked to the young men about their school experiences and work ambitions and looked at their behaviour. I found that these young men showed softer sides of masculinity, such as empathy, compassion and sensitivity. These changes and softer sides of masculinity coexisted with behaviours often linked with negative expressions of masculinity, such as violence and crime. I describe this as “amalgamated masculinities”.

These changes in expressions of masculinity and the positive developments are significant. They show that the masculinity of marginalised young men is not static; instead, it is evolving. This change allows us to explore how to further promote these positive changes through added research and targeted interventions.

Take Home Message

The main takeaway from this blog is: let’s stop throwing marginalised young men under the bus in the pursuit of equality. Relying on a deficit model only deepens their exclusion and overlooks the potential for positive change.

Consider this question: Are you the same person you were five years ago or even a month ago? If your answer is no — which I assume it is — then why do we think that marginalised young men’s masculinity cannot evolve? Change is possible; let’s seek the light in the darkness and look for opportunities to encourage young men to consider caring roles within social care. 

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