How did GuysWork start?

GuysWork was created by Morris Green. It started because of a challenge facing part of Nova Scotia’s health care system. The province’s school-based Youth Health Centres were effective at helping young people improve their health, but not many guys were using them.

The departments of Health and Wellness and Education and Early Childhood Development wanted to disrupt one of the traditional masculinity norms that says guys are weak if they ask for help. Creating an all-guys health class helped shift that attitude.

What is GuysWork trying to do?

We believe guys present different versions of masculinity shaped by messages from pop culture, families, advertising and marketing, sports culture, gaming culture and increasingly porn culture. Many of those presentations are not helpful or healthy.

We want young men to feel comfortable and supported to present a more authentic version of their masculinity. That’s usually a version that is healthier and more helpful, not only for them, but for everyone else.

Why should we care about this work?

Men’s health is something to worry about with higher rates of brain and spinal cord injuries, higher rates of death by suicide, and higher rates of alcohol-attributable deaths. Adherence to many masculine stereotypes is related to the poor picture of men’s health.

There is also a strong link between adherence to many traditional masculinity norms and gender-based violence. Talking about masculine stereotypes and how they impact the lives of young men – especially normalizing help-seeking is one strategy to improve the situation

Does GuysWork have an impact?

The first evaluation, conducted by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, told us how much the youth liked the approach, particularly the safe spaces for talking.

The second and third evaluations told us attitudes around help-seeking and knowledge of consent were shifting in a positive direction. The latest evaluation reported a significant and positive shift in the way youth looked at traditional masculinity norms.

How does GuysWork differ from other classes?

GuysWork doesn’t look like a traditional class, with audio-visual materials, worksheets, or lectures. Everyone sits in a circle and the lessons are pieces of paper on the floor with students moving through an activity that helps everyone talk and reflect. Facilitators concentrate on listening and asking questions without judgement, and youth only share what they feel comfortable sharing.

Who facilitates the sessions?

GuysWork facilitators are almost always school-based staff, including teachers, guidance counselors, specialized support staff, as well as vice-principals and principals. Facilitators have diverse gender identities and don’t have to be men, but some guys say having a male facilitator can help, especially when they may not have a male role model.

There are typically two facilitators in the circle and the sessions happen during instructional time, with lessons aligned with provincial health curriculum outcomes. There are typically eight to 10 GuysWork lessons in each grade, six through nine.