Male Roles, Masculinities and Violence

Book excerpt: This book is based on an expert group meeting entitled 'Male Roles and Masculinities in the Perspective of a Culture of Peace', which was organised by UNESCO in Oslo, Norway in 1997, the first international discussion of the connections between men and masculinity and peace and war. The group consisted of researchers, activists, policy makers and administrators and the aim of the meeting was to formulate practical suggestions for change. Chapters in the book consist of both regional case studies and social science research on the connections of traditional masculinity and patriarchy to violence and peace building. The Culture of Peace initiatives in this book show how violence is ineffective, and the book contests the views in the socialisation of boy-children that aggressiveness, violence and force are an acceptable means of expression.