Response to interpellation 2024/25:217 on destructive masculinity norms
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns destructive masculinity norms and their impact on society. L argues that these norms are central to preventing violence against women, oppression, and human trafficking 1. L emphasizes that men often hesitate to seek care due to expectations of strength 1 and that the school is an important place for preventive work 2. L believes that equality is a societal issue that everyone benefits from 2 and argues that collective blaming of men is wrong 3. S argues that these norms are a major obstacle to men's well-being and that they contribute to men committing violence 4. S believes that school and sports are important places to counteract the norms 5 and that the welfare system is the strongest tool to break them 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! Anna Wallentheim has asked me how I and the government work to prevent destructive masculinity norms and provide men with the right conditions to get out of loneliness, which otherwise risks reinforcing negative behaviors.
I would like to begin by thanking the interpellor for the commitment and the opportunity to discuss this important issue.
Breaking destructive masculinity norms is of central importance for preventing and combating men's violence against women, violence in close relationships, honor-related violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking.
Society's expectations of how women and men should behave can also affect health. Masculinity norms can include an expectation that men should be strong, which can lead to men to a greater extent refrain from asking for help and seeking care because it is considered a weakness not to manage on one's own.
The feeling of loneliness often involves a suffering for the individual that can affect both mental and physical health. Involuntary loneliness and isolation is a public health problem that affects many people, and the government prioritizes the work to break and prevent involuntary loneliness and isolation.
During 2023, the government initiated a three-year joint initiative estimated to amount to 300 million kronor per year during the period 2023-2025. The government is also taking several measures to strengthen the work on mental health and suicide prevention, which for 2024 includes, among other things, an investment of 1.6 billion kronor to strengthen and develop the work in municipalities and regions. The government also intends to decide on a new national strategy in the area of mental health and suicide prevention.
During 2024, the government has decided on a new action program for 2024-2026 in order to ensure coordinated, long-term and effective work to prevent and combat men's violence against women, violence in close relationships and honor-related violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking. The action program includes 132 measures, and one of the objectives is early and preventive interventions with a particular focus on children and young people as well as honor-related violence and oppression.
The work to prevent violence needs to include men and boys and to break destructive norms of masculinity. The work with norms and values, for example in schools and on digital platforms, is an important part of this work.
In conclusion, I want to highlight that we need to pay more attention to honor-related violence and oppression. Honor-related violence and oppression are linked to honor norms based on strong patriarchal and heteronormative perceptions. Counteracting all forms of honor-related violence and oppression and honor-related power structures is an important issue for the government. In order for us to be able to prevent and combat the violence and oppression, it is required that these issues land in focus and that this is seen as a societal issue. I am therefore glad to have the opportunity to discuss these important issues.
Anna Wallentheim (S)
Madam Speaker! I am one of the Members of Parliament who meets an incredible number of school classes. When doing so, it is not uncommon to be asked: Which issues do you care about most? And for me, the answer is clear. I usually answer that some of the issues that I am most engaged in are equality and equity.
In these meetings with high school students, whether it is here in the Riksdag or at home in Skåne, I usually explain that I sacrifice an incredible amount of time with my daughter to be here in the Riksdag. But I am also here for her sake. I like to explain, especially to the girls in the class, that it is incredibly important that we have a policy that stands up for women being able to become whoever they want, love whoever they want, dress however they want, work with whatever they want, and so on. The second later, I usually turn to the young boys in the class and explain that I am a Member of Parliament also for their sake. As a feminist, it is incredibly important to stand up for both young men's and young women's right to be whoever they want. I am, therefore, here also for my niblings and for other boys.
Unfortunately, we know that just as clearly as it is that young girls are suffering, just as clearly is it that we also have major obstacles for the well-being of men and boys. Destructive masculinity norms are unfortunately an example of a major obstacle. This means that there are invisible rules that set narrow boundaries for how men should be or ought to be. It can be about expectations that men should be strong, that they should not talk about feelings, and that they should be independent. These are norms that not only harm society and women but are also incredibly harmful for the men themselves.
One example is the loneliness we see among men. I mentioned in my interpellation that RFSU, on the international men's day on November 19, released a report showing that every sixth man feels they have no one to talk about feelings with. At home in my region, Skåne, the region conducted its own mapping which showed that as many as every fourth man in Skåne feels they have no one to talk to.
This is not just statistics. This is a story of isolation, of not feeling that one has the right to express one's feelings or express vulnerability. We also know that this loneliness can lead to mental ill-health, just as the minister was touching upon.
This becomes clear, among other things, when it comes to the suicide statistics. Two-thirds of those who unfortunately take their lives in Sweden are men. Every suicide is, of course, a tragedy that however perhaps could have been prevented if norms allowed more men to dare to talk about their feelings or dare to seek help.
Destructive norms are also about a violence that does not only affect others. It does not only affect women, children and society but also the men themselves. Often, violence is a way for young men to manage frustration and feelings that the norms otherwise forbid. Instead of talking about their pain, they direct it outward, toward others, or inward, toward themselves.
This is not just a question of weakness in individuals, but it is about structures that we must change. As a Social Democrat, I want to see a society where men can be free to express their feelings and where women do not have to live with fear of violence. We must live in a society where everyone is given the space to be who they want to be.
The Minister mentioned in his answer that it is important that we work on crime prevention both in schools and on digital platforms. I agree with this. My question to the Minister therefore becomes: What concrete measures has the government made or does the government intend to present regarding the preventive work aimed at specifically schools or digital platforms?
Sanna Backeskog (S)
Madam Speaker! Warm thanks, Anna Wallentheim, for this important interpellation!
Destructive norms of masculinity are a strongly contributing risk factor for both violence in a gang context and for men's violence against women. Those who have stereotypical perceptions in line with traditional masculinity and femininity have an increased propensity to perpetrate violence.
Destructive masculinity norms are destructive for the entire society and for our social community. Restrictive gender norms contribute to men exercising violence. They limit women's right to live safely and free from violence. They also increase men's vulnerability, just as Member Wallentheim said here.
I am pleased with the commitment that the Minister for Equality shows in these issues, and I particularly want to link to the end of her speech which addressed honor-related violence and oppression. There is no doubt that the problem is extensive and restricts, above all, girls but also boys in a completely unacceptable way. It is crucial that society acts powerfully against all types of honor-related violence and oppression.
Madam Speaker! I would, however, like to take the opportunity today to highlight something positive: my home municipality Gävle's pride, Shanazi hjältar. The activity was brought from Linköping and, thanks to brave and committed municipal politicians in combination with a completely outstanding operations manager, Rodin Hajo, has been able to be conducted in Gävle since 2020, first in project form but now as a permanent activity.
I know that the Minister for Equality has also taken an interest in Shanazi's heroes, has met our group from Gävle, and is familiar with the activities. For the audience, I still want to describe how we work in Gävle.
Shanazi's heroes are the role models who dare to see, hear, and act in order to together create an equal society, free from honor-related violence and oppression. Through education and work with role models, the heroes want to strengthen young boys and girls living in an honor context.
Shanazi heroes are something one has to apply to be a part of. For one year, they work very hard with group processes while the group is educated in equality, human rights, democracy, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They shall then act as positive role models among their peers. The goal is to achieve an attitude change among young men and women living in a context of honor and, in the longer term, to reduce violence. We also know that it yields results. The University of Gävle has researched the activity and the work and demonstrated very positive effects.
As one of the heroes expressed it: If you are out at sea with a boat and the boat breaks down, you must take the boat ashore to be able to repair it. Shanazi is land for us.
I and some party comrades had the great honor of welcoming Rodin and the guys to the Riksdag in the middle of November. We got to listen to the life stories and what Shanazi meant to them. It left no one untouched.
Several of the guys now work within the school system. Some are employed by the women's helpline Blåklockan in its work with the "machofabriken" (machofactory) out in schools. It is magical. Many also testify to how knowledge and attitude changes have spread to family and friends. While many of these guys have moved on to studies at a higher level, they continue to give lectures at both schools and youth centers through Shanazi hjältar.
My question to the Minister for Equality is whether she intends to provide resources and knowledge-enhancing measures so that Shanazi heroes can become a national project where more young people across the country can be developed and contribute just as much as our heroes in Gävle do.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! I am pleased to hear the interpellator and the member. I see that there is a consensus regarding what equality is about. Equality is not about pitting genders against each other or promoting one gender at the expense of the other. Equality is a societal issue and something that everyone wins from when we move forward. That is precisely how we must view this work.
If we are to be able to move forward in the work, we must see exactly what is at issue in this debate, namely how destructive norms of masculinity limit men and how it becomes a breeding ground for several of the social problems that we are dealing with. Among other things, men's violence against women and gang crime have their roots in this issue.
Madam Speaker! There are clear indications that there are areas where we can become much better when it comes to seeing specifically men and men's rights. We see that more women than men seek care for mental ill-health, but at the same time, we see that suicide is twice as common among men as among women. This shows very clearly that we have a problem: Men do not dare to seek care. Men do not ask for help even though they need it. Here, we need to have different support functions for men.
Regarding the area of violence in close relationships, the government has invested on several fronts. We have a support line for violent men, Välj att sluta, where one can get help to manage aggressive behavior if needed. We have also, during the mandate period, started a support line for men who are subjected to violence. Even there, we see that there are men who need someone to talk to but who do not have it.
There are also other very important initiatives. I have visited Mansjouren. It is an important support function for men who need someone to talk to and who simply lack someone to handle their problems with.
In this context, I want to say that I share the view of Shanazi hjältar. It is a fantastic activity, which I too have been incredibly inspired by. I truly believe that it is the model forward, that we do not talk about men and boys but talk with men and boys. We shall see what lies behind aggressive behavior or mental ill-health in men and find ways to move forward in those issues.
When it comes to preventive work, the government absolutely sees the school as a very important place to carry it out. It is there that we have the opportunity to reach young boys at an early stage. The government has, among other things, given a mandate to Skolverket and Folkhälsomyndigheten to develop support material on sexuality, consent, and relationships. It is part of the government's work to bring these issues up for discussion in school, so that we can have stronger and safer men and boys in the future.
Anna Wallentheim (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister!
We know that destructive norms of masculinity affect all parts of our society. For young boys, school and sports are, of course, incredibly important forums. And for young men, it is the workplaces.
In school, we see, among other things, how young boys struggle to meet expectations that are not primarily about learning and growing, but about living up to a macho culture where toughness and dominance are rewarded. We know that this leads to poorer school results for young boys. There is also a greater risk that they leave school without complete grades. Even though it is over ten years since I myself left the world of school, I still receive frightening signals that this is escalating rather than decreasing.
But at the same time, there are also good examples. All around Sweden, we find schools that work systematically with norm criticism and with giving young boys space to talk about feelings and reflect on the expectations that young men must live up to today. This shows that a change is possible. But I have many times been met with the fact that it is passionate individuals within the school - teachers, student health services, and principals - who ensure that this is rewarded in the school rather than the school system providing space for it. Therefore, it is positive that there is a mandate that concerns ensuring that this is strengthened within the school.
We know that there is also within sports a major struggle against the macho culture, which is reinforced in the locker rooms but also within the spectator culture. However, there are fantastic initiatives, such as Locker Room Talk. There, young players get the chance to learn about decent attitudes and equality. But we know that we need to continue working against the destructive norms so that sports can continue to be a safe place for young boys and a place where one can dare to talk about feelings in a positive way.
Madam Speaker! School and sports are important for young boys, but the workplaces may become the absolutely most important place when it comes to young men. For many men, work is the only place where one meets other people, and an open and inclusive culture can make a big difference for young men's mental health. Therefore, I am proud that there are trade unions and labor organizations that take incredibly great responsibility for change in the workplaces.
For example, Papper is now working together with RFSU to train safety representatives on how to promote mental health and prevent negative jargon in the workplaces. They have a project called Hur är läget? which is a tool to be able to talk about feelings and support each other.
Byggnads has also taken a major initiative in this context. With the campaign Stop the Macho Culture, they have both highlighted problems and created changes within the construction industry, where the macho culture has been particularly strong because it is such a male-dominated industry. This clearly shows that safety representatives, trade unions, and labor unions need to receive increased support to continue working with equality and create safer workplaces for everyone – women, men, and also non-binary people.
These are some examples that show that we can change the norms, but it requires long-term commitment and political will. We must strengthen the role of the safety representatives and safeguard the work of the trade unions. That is why one becomes worried when the largest party in the government base, Sverigedemokraterna, as recently as this weekend directed sharp criticism towards, for example, LO.
I therefore want to ask the Minister how the government views the workplaces' important work regarding equality and countering destructive norms of masculinity, perhaps primarily through safety representatives and trade unions.
Sanna Backeskog (S)
Madam Speaker! I want to continue to link to Shanazi's heroes but now change the theme. When a group from Shanazi was visiting here in the Riksdag, I had the privilege of having lunch together with the guys and discussing life and society in general.
One of the first questions came from Adam. He asked me: Why do you politicians talk so little about porn and how it harms young people? This was followed by a very nice and important conversation about what the group saw among friends and in conversations at schools. It is about dopamine effects and porn-addicted behavior in young boys who experience that they need increasingly more extreme pornographic films to be able to feel pleasure, and that the shame means there is nowhere to turn.
In the conversation, the focus was also, of course, primarily on girls' total vulnerability when it comes to persuasion or coercion to agree to things against their will, due to the effects of pornography in young relationships. I promised Adam to raise the issue in the chamber of the Riksdag.
They are certainly right. This picture is confirmed by both the Gender Equality Authority and ungarelationer.se. We must do more when it comes to the harmful effects of porn. It is first and foremost about the vulnerable women and girls who are within this horrific industry. But it is also about how porn destroys and harms boys' sexuality and that, above all, young girls are subjected to pressure or outright abuse and gross sex that they do not consent to at all.
Pornography reinforces these destructive norms of masculinity. Pornography contributes to the objectification of girls and women and glorifies violence and abuse.
Is the Minister for Equality prepared to take tougher action against porn producers and make efforts so that the vulnerable girls can get out of this? Is the Minister further prepared to protect young porn consumers through, for example, requirements for BankID and age verification?
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! I take over from the member where they finished and speak about the things and matters that our youth encounter through their screens. Among these are social media and much that affects our youth. Influencers can have more or less harmful messages and build up harmful ideals.
But I am glad that the Member of Parliament also highlights pornography consumption. We live in a world where our youth generation has unlimited access to pornography, including violence pornography. I already saw in my previous work as a prosecutor a youth generation that has developed a normalized view of, for example, violence as a natural part of a sexual life. And we see that injuries due to, for example, strangulation are increasing in young relationships.
This is an issue that we need to take very seriously. We have a great deal of work to do, including when it comes to informing young people and, not least, talking to parents and teachers and raising awareness about this.
Screen time is part of the assignment we have given to Skolverket and Folkhälsomyndigheten. But we also, of course, need to continue to look at screens in general and how we can work with that issue in different ways. In that regard, I exclude no measures moving forward.
I also believe it is important to look at how it is done in other countries. For example, Norway has interesting policies when it comes to limiting the harmful effects of screens.
Let me return to the question of the background to why we get harmful masculine ideals and that we need to work from several different fronts.
One thing we can all do is to think that it matters how we talk about boys and men. I consider it self-evident that we should never in any way downplay the perpetrators' responsibility when it comes to crimes of violence or sexual crimes. At the same time, I believe that in all contexts it is bad and dangerous to assign collective guilt to different groups in society, regardless of whether it is based on ethnic affiliation or gender.
Collective blaming of men, in this context, contributes to reinforcing norms that men are dangerous, evil, and something that women must be protected from. It is a completely wrong approach. We need to see this as an equality issue that is important for both women and men. And if we are to achieve results above all else, we cannot work with protecting women from men but must look at the reasons why men hit and are aggressive and that men in our society also often suffer very much, which we need to work on.
The efforts of workplaces are absolutely something that we also need to focus on. We see workplaces as an arena where different macho ideals are nurtured. It is something that employers need to work on. Also, efforts to break the segregation in the labor market are important as a piece of the puzzle, because workplaces with a more equal gender distribution are an important work environment issue in this regard.
Anna Wallentheim (S)
Madam Speaker! As politicians, we sometimes have a tendency to think that we have to reinvent the wheel. During the debate, several good examples of important initiatives against destructive masculinity norms have emerged. My colleague Sanna Backeskog mentioned Shanazi hjältar, which is a fantastic organization. In sports, we have Locker Room Talk, something I think is important. Trade unions and federations work with the workplaces. There are, therefore, several good examples.
Something that sometimes scares me is that when we politicians believe that we have to reinvent the wheel, the resources for these important preventive measures disappear because we want to invest in something new instead of strengthening what already exists. We must never forget that there are incredibly many people in our society who are making important efforts to combat these norms.
As a final part of my speech, I want to bring up another matter. When one chooses to lower the tax for some, it is always someone else who must pay. I see that the destructive norms of masculinity are reinforced by inequality and increasing gaps, something that research has also shown. When welfare is dismantled and safety systems are eroded, the vulnerable are even more affected. More boys are left without support in school, more men get stuck in loneliness, and more women risk being subjected to violence.
The government's tax cuts for among others the richest are currently threatening our welfare, and I believe that welfare is perhaps our absolute strongest tool to break these destructive norms. School, healthcare, and elderly care must be prioritized for everyone's sake. An equal society is not only fair, but it is also safer and stronger for everyone. We know that through our welfare we can reach the young men and boys who do not dare to talk about feelings, who risk falling into crime and so on. Therefore, I urge the government to make more and larger investments in welfare.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the interpellator and the member for an important discussion. It is very important to have this approach when we talk about issues of equality. It fits extra well now when we recently had International Men's Day. At that time, I was careful to point out that I am all of Sweden's Minister for Equality. It is such an approach we need to have in the work for equality.
The government will continue to work on issues concerning boys and men - both for their sake and for the sake of women and girls. This is an important societal issue and something for which we will continue to find creative solutions in different ways so that we can move forward. At the same time, we naturally welcome all initiatives from civil society and other actors who are also important pieces of the puzzle in the work.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.