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Men need to be taught from the earliest age possible to do their fair share of housework and care, a men’s charity has claimed.
Sean Cooke, executive director of the Men’s Development Network, said that sharing unpaid work at home is a “pressing issue of gender justice.”
She argued that there will never be gender justice until men take responsibility for half of the world’s childcare and domestic work.
Work to develop positive attitudes toward parenting and home management should begin at the earliest age for children, Cooke said.
“Ireland, believe it or not, still needs a radical rethink when it comes to male stereotypes and attitudes towards fatherhood and caregiving. This will not only support women emotionally and practically, but will also support the improvement of men’s mental health, ”he added.
He also stressed that the role of men in the home needs to be discussed further due to the changing nature of society and so that boys can have positive male role models.
Cooke spoke at the online launch of Men’s Development Network’s annual report. Founded in 1997, the network is a charity based in the City of Waterford. It runs a number of national programs including individual development parenting, training, hotline support, and awareness.
The network supports MenCare, an international campaign that works towards two fundamental goals: men and boys who do 50 percent of care work worldwide and an end to domestic violence. It operates in 40 countries around the world.
Stereotypes
The network believes that parenting can prevent child abuse and violence against women. This can be achieved by breaking male stereotypes about how men should behave in family settings.
Cooke explained: “Parents who have positive relationships with their children say that these relationships are one of the most important factors for their well-being and happiness, and studies show that parents who have close, non-violent relationships with their children live longer. they have fewer physical and mental health problems, are less likely to abuse drugs, and are more productive for work. ”
Speaking at the event via video link, State Minister for Mental Health and Seniors Mary Butler said the goal of achieving “equitable and involved parenting cannot be underestimated.”
He said the Covid-19 pandemic has led to mental health challenges for families and that calls to mental health helplines increased by at least 300 percent during the pandemic.
Butler praised the network for “supporting family units across the country and challenging harmful stereotypes that often prevent people from getting the support they need.”
She believed that society can be “truly inspired” by the network’s work to address the problem of male domestic violence and its support for the white ribbon campaign that seeks to end men’s violence against women.
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