W elcome to the HYP HOP HYM (Healthy Young Men) Presentation by Carol Robinson

1. Welcome to the HYP HOPHYM(Healthy Young Men)Presentationby Carol Robinson

2. Aim of the Presentation • To demonstrate how consultation events with boys and young men influenced the development of the HYM (Healthy Young Men) sex and relationships education training programme and an educational resource for professionals in order to address the specific health and psychological needs of boys and young men ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ Proverb

3. Introduction The HYM (healthy young men) training programme emerged from the multi-agency “Mates” (Men: addressing their emotions) project which used imaginative and creative ways of engaging with boys and young men including young fathers The project placed an emphasis on the importance of providing opportunities that allow time for young men to discuss their thoughts and feelings about their experiences of sex and relationships education, health services and their thoughts and feelings about becoming a father

4. High rates of teenage pregnancy (Social Exclusion Unit 1999) Rising rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (HPA 2006) Association of masculinity with risk taking behaviour (Robertson, S. 2007 Understanding Men and Health. Masculinities, Identity and Well-being. Open University Press: London) Increasing incidence of suicide amongst young men (Department of Health 2006 New trend to reduce suicide rate of young men) Rates of testicular cancer diagnoses have more than doubled between 1979 and 2002 and have increased by 15% since 1993 (Men’s Health Forum 2004 Public health and media reports of declining fertility UK Statistics

5. UK Statistics continued • Men are more likely to be obese and less likely than women to consume the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables and more than likely to have a higher than recommended salt intake (Office for National Statistics 2006) • Men are more likely than women to drink alcohol above recommended amounts, to binge drink, and to take illicit drugs (Office for National Statistics 2006) • Whilst overall rates of smoking continue to decline, prevalence remains higher amongst men than women (Office for National Statistics 2006) • Young men aged 16-24 are the greatest victims of violent crime with 12.6% having been assaulted in the last year (Home Office 2006) • Men outnumbered women as offenders across all crime categories by more than four to one (Home Office 2005) • Men are now more likely to have a psychotic disorder than women (Men’s Health Forum 2004)

6. Defining Men’s Health • Disparity in the range of services and information available to men and women (Department of Health 2003 National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV • Compounded by a marked reluctance amongst men to consult health professionals (Men’s Health Forum 2004) In order to consider the wider social and political determinants of men’s health and to ensure the inclusion of boys and young men, the Men’s Health Forum (2004) defines men’s health as: ‘‘arising from physiological, social, cultural or environmental factors that have a specific impact on boys or men and/or where particular interventions are required for boys and men in order to achieve improvements in health well-being at the individual or population level’’

7. Masculinity and Changing Socio-economics ‘The 21st century male lives in an emotional and sexual minefield’ (adapted from Deakin and Kirkpatrick 1997) • Relationship patterns • The role of women • Sexual expectation • Employment ‘Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn't matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls’ Anne Frank

8. Pause for Thought • The majority of single parents, teachers (especially primary) and health professionals are female. How does the lack of masculine role models impact on the socialisation of boys and young men? • Does a man’s employment define his masculinity? • Is it considered more socially acceptable to be a lesbian, a female single parent or a female housewife? • The "lads" culture is very prevalent amongst young men, for example, football, lager, lad’s magazines, does this serve to retard male social interaction with the opposite sex? • Has the rise of feminism as a theory bewildered young men? of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable’ Plato

9. Boys and girls learn from a very early age what is considered to be appropriate behaviour by the significant people in their lives and learn from the role models around them Messages are learned early on like: ‘boys will be boys’ ‘big boys don’t cry’ ‘boys don’t talk about emotions’ Notions of masculinity are not fixed because they are based on experiences and attitudes found in the wider community such as in schools and employment ‘warrior’ or a ‘wimp’ Jordan (2002) Many men see their role as providers and protectors and hold a strong image of strength and independence Chell, Jones, Hughes and Saunders (2002) of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable’Plato MASCULINITY AND ROLE THEORY

10. Invisible intimacy screen(Ridley 2000) In emotional arousing situations: Female Tendencies: wants to speak about emotions, wants to be listened to Male Tendencies: looks for the problem and wants to find solutions Where there are social and interpersonal pressures: Female Tendencies:seeks connectedness within a network of relationships and pays attention to who gets hurt Male Tendencies: seeks autonomy and separateness and considers his own position within a hierarchy Within physical relationships: Female Tendencies: wants emotional sharing, touch and tenderness and whole body involvement and seeks exclusivity Male Tendencies: needs to feel confident and to seek penetration and does not necessarily seek exclusivity for himself Within communication Female Tendencies:find words quickly & seeks mutual responsiveness • Male Tendencies: slow to find words, seeks a non-verbal understanding

11. Met a girl at the station While i was on probation I wanted some action She was up for some passion Now I’ve got an infection Cos i didn't cover my erection And she's got to get an abortion We should have had more caution And used contraception Cos it was sex with no affection that night at the station By Martin, aged 15, Alternative Curriculum Programme You and I, we started as friends, time moved on, we grew strong I never thought this would end, all those times, you said to me, you left me a fool (too blind) too blind to see Coz life's too short, I'll try and move on Confront all my fears, and write a new song coz one day I'll find peace and romance, And I'll tell myself I don't miss our last dance (miss our last dance) You & me we had our bit of history when we were together, it felt like forever And deep down inside I thought we were meant to be No matter what we had, There's something better My dreams you did take, And my heart you can break By Emma, aged 15, Looked After Child

12. Sex and Relationships Education in the 60’s ‘When retiring to the bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible this is of the utmost importance, your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom as he may have to do for his train. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face cream or hair rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last things at night. When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. In all things be led by your husbands wishes, do not stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress then agree humbly, a man’s satisfaction is more important than a woman’s. When he reaches a climax a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate pleasure. Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices, be obedient, register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall asleep, adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply night time face and hair care, set the alarm so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have a cup of tea ready when he awakes’

13. The HYM training takes the Social Exclusion Unit Teenage Pregnancy Report (SEU 1999) and its associated teenage pregnancy targets as a key reference. The programme aims to equip health and other professionals working with boys and young men with the knowledge and skills to inspire, develop and implement creative and innovative practice and includes: Pre Course material including relevant key documents Overview of key statistics and data Values and Personal Belief System Exercise Presentation and discussion of case scenarios Workshops to critically evaluate the concepts of masculinity and changing socio-economic aspects Culture and Diversity Concept of Self-Esteem Themes of Engagement Developing Services HYM Training

14. HYM RESOURCE The HYM resource is intended for all professionals and practitioners working with boys and young men in a variety of settings to facilitate health education and promotion around different aspects of masculinity including sexual health, identity, emotional well-being and fatherhood The resource provides photographic images as a medium for discussion in order to allow boys and young men to explore the physical, psychological, cultural and social aspects of what being a male means in order to provide new messages relating to their role Evaluations during the development of the resource identified that once boys and young men felt secure, they valued the opportunity to discuss their cultural, ethnic and gender requirements as well as the broader issues around masculinity such as sexuality, sexual health and fatherhood. As one young man said: “Thank you so much for the discussions and allowing me time to talk; no-one has ever done this before”

15. Conclusions • Self-esteem, peer pressure, role theory, socialisation and emotional coping styles all have gender elements that make them important aspects when working with boys and young men • Boys and young men’s socialisation can have an impact on men’s health for example, poor users of health services; leaving symptoms longer than necessary; and being reluctant to ask for or accept help • Professionals’ positive attitudes and skills can promote self-esteem and encourage young men’s use of health services • Masculinity may have a negative impact on men’s health. The complex nature of masculinity needs to become a more prominent component of men’s health care within both the literature and practice Finally ‘see things from the boy’s point of view’ Robert Baden-Powell

16. Thank you For information on HYP HOP training and resources please visit www.hyphop.co.uk Telephone 07999411909

17. Further Information • www.checkemlads.comtesticular cancer awareness site • www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk Chlamydia National Screening Programme • www.fathersdirect.com • www.foryoungpeople.co.uk sexual health information for young people • www.likeitis.org.uk information about all aspects of sex education and teenage life • www.lifebytes.gov.uk facts about health for young people aged 11-14 • www.mens-counselling.co.uk on-line counselling service providing open discussion forums, private one to one counselling for men • www.menshealthforum.org.uk • www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree • www.ruthinking.co.uk sex advice, facts and answers • www.talktofrank.com The A-Z of Drugs • www.teenagehealthfreak.com interactive health information site for teenagers • www.thecalmzone.net CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) targeted at young men aged 15-35 to help deal with any problems • www.workingwithmen.org • www.youngminds.org.uk