‘Bromance’ classes will fight ‘toxic masculinity’ in schools: teacher

An important course is missing from school education: bromance 101.

A teacher and author argues that schools should provide “lessons in bromance” to help focus on the mental health crisis among boys.

Matt Pinkett, an English teacher who disputes the idea of “toxic masculinity,” believes that teenage boys should be exposed to good models for a “bromance” with close, strong male friendships through characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson or Frodo and Sam from “Lord of the Rings.”

In his new book, “Boys Do Cry: Improving Boys’ Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools,” Pinkett expresses the importance of the “emotional openness” of male friendships — but warns that the men read about in school literature are not “great examples of male kindness” and most of them are “tools.”

For example, Macbeth “kills a lot of people” and Ebenezer Scrooge is “a bit of a numpty” throughout most of “A Christmas Carol.”

He compiled evidence from school staff, therapists and experts in well-being to come to this conclusion.

The teacher from Surrey in South East London writes that it’s important to “expose children to texts that include close, emotionally intimate, and enriching male relationships.”

“There are plenty of books out there brimming with bromantic relationships. Sam and Frodo. Holmes and Watson,” Pinkett states in the book.

Pinkett shares ways teachers can help boost the idea of a bromance in schools, including complimenting male teachers and discussing any potential hurdles for a bromance, including the fear of people speculating on their sexuality or any ridicule that comes.

Teachers should also discourage boys in the classroom from participating in “bad banter,” such as name-calling, mockery and “verbal abuse.” They should also be on the lookout for body image insecurities with boys face with expectations from “sun-kissed and statuesque exemplars of male bodily perfection on television [programs] such as Love Island” and influencers “whose abdominal muscles have abdominal muscles.”

In line with body image, Pinkett suggests teachers avoid saying things such as “I need a few strong boys to help me take these books next door” or telling young boys that they “shot up over the summer” to avoid the notion that certain body types are praised and manly.

 Boys should also be taught about “unrealistic” male bodies on TV and social media

These types of conversations could potentially lead to bigorexia, a health condition also known as muscle dysphoria that can cause a person to constantly think about the muscle on their body, according to Healthline.

The book also touches on how when boys tell their fellow male friends their problems, the boys will often respond with humor, minimize the issue and/or blame their friend for whatever it is.

“I am not suggesting that we should ever try to be therapists – that would never work. But the fact is that we are in front of these children for massive chunks of their life” Pinkett said. “If we can speak positively about male emotions and demonstrate ways of dealing with problematic feelings, that would be a powerful thing. We need to teach boys to be kind, and that it is OK to be vulnerable and emotionally articulate.”

“This isn’t just a problem for teenage boys. If we can teach these boys to discard harmful and outdated expectations of masculinity, society as a whole will benefit. It is only through education that the blight of male-on-female sexual abuse, assault, and harassment can be eradicated.”

“Boys Do Cry: Improving Boys’ Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools” is set to hit bookshelves May 29.