The link between negative norms and violence
Research shows that environments with high levels of inequality - and especially gender inequality - contain more violence. It's almost as if in typical male environments, violence is expected. But the negative male role, the norm of being macho as a guy, is just one of many examples of negative and limiting norms.
We start with the environments where the norm is that guys should be macho. This norm includes an expectation that a guy should use and tolerate violence.
Anyone who breaks the expected norm is often punished by those around them: called a sissy (male) or bossy (female). Transgender and non-binary people hear even more name-calling for breaking the norm.
These norms are often set early in life. For example, adults don't take boys' violence against each other seriously. This teaches children that boys are expected to fight.
Many young boys worry about not meeting the demands of the gender role. This anxiety can lead them to want to prove their manhood by doing violent things.
As more boys and men show that there are actually several ways to be a boy, it becomes less important to prove your manhood in violent ways.
But negative norms are not always about gender. They can be about age, disability, skin color, appearance/body shape, economics... well, everything that makes us who we are. And norms vary depending on time, place and context.
We need to challenge and become aware of the norms that increase the risk of harassment, abuse and violence. Fitting into these norms can bring status, power and benefits. But if you instead fall outside the norm, the risk of being subjected to violations, harassment and violence increases.
We need to make visible the norms we live with in order to be able to choose the ones we want and scrap those that are limiting and destructive. It is simply a matter of equality. The more equal and egalitarian a society is, the less violence.
Everyone should be able to participate and feel safe and no one should be subjected to violations just because they do not fit into the prevailing norms.
Everyone is equally valuable and should be respected and included accordingly.
Why is it common for girls in secondary school to be called whores, sluts and many other things? Why are faggot and homo insults?
What signals are we adults sending to our children? What is okay and what is strange?