Do boys need male role models? Gender Identities and Practices in Work with Young Men

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Boys and young men have become a key focus of public anxiety in recent years, with politicians, the media and professionals all expressing concern about issues such as boys' educational under-achievement compared to girls, increasing rates of suicide and poor mental health, and involvement in offending and anti-social behaviour. One popular explanation for these poor outcomes has been the apparent absence of male role models from the lives of many vulnerable and troublesome young men. This has resulted in a number of initiatives aimed at increasing male involvement in boys' lives and recruiting more men to work in educational and welfare settings. But how much do we really know about the part played by gender in work with young men? Does it really make a difference if boys are surrounded by positive male role models? Although there has been some research on these questions in relation to educational settings, there has been comparatively little exploration of what goes on in welfare services, particularly those working with the most vulnerable young men. We know very little about how young men who use these services view the gender of professional workers, or how those workers themselves (whether male or female) see gender issues being played out in their relationships with boys.This research project will provide a unique opportunity to explore these questions, in a way that will provides fresh insights into young men's lives and contribute to improving professional relationships in welfare settings. The project has been developed in close partnership between a team at The Open University and a major national charity, Action for Children, which has extensive experience of working with vulnerable and troublesome young men. The research will be carried out at Action for Children projects throughout the UK, and project staff and young people themselves will be involved in organising and facilitating the research.The research will explore the following questions: What ideas and assumptions influence practice with boys and young men and in particular what assumptions about gender inform current theory, policy and practice? How do boys and young men in contact with services talk about their interactions and relationships with male and female professionals? What do they value in their relationships with workers? To what extent is this related to the gender of the worker? What do they identify as essential to developing good relationships? What do girls say about boys and their relationships with workers? How do male and female professionals working with boys and young men across a range of settings talk about and construct their interactions and relationships with service users? What do they identify as essential to developing good relationships? How does gender interact with other aspects of identity, such as class and ethnicity, in relationships between young men and professional workers? What are the implications of these findings for developing interventions with boys and young men who are perceived to be vulnerable or 'at risk'?The study will include focus groups and individual interviews with young male service users; interviews with male and female workers in the same settings; a number of interviews with young women service users; and an analysis of policy documents, media stories and academic texts covering the issue of 'male role models' and the role of gender in work with young men.The project will also include a comprehensive dissemination process aimed at sharing the findings of the research with a wide audience including professionals, policy-makers, media and the general public, with a view to increasing understanding of the issues and improving practice in work with boys and young men. The process will include a national conference, staff development events, a video produced by young people, and online discussions for staff and young people, as well as written reports and publications.