Phil Barker loathes the term "toxic masculinity".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I think masculinity is beautiful, wonderful, warm and strong," the journalist and author of The Revolution of Man said this week.
But "numbers you can't look away from" shows something is not working.
"Six men a day are killing themselves and then more than one woman a week is murdered by her partner or former partner," he said.
"It's men that's doing it, there's something broken in us and I was determined to explore that, find out what that was and see if it could be fixed."
Mr Barker is one of three key speakers at Thinking Outside the 'Man Box', a men and masculinity community forum at The Cube Wodonga on Thursday, June 27, 8.30am to 12.30pm.
He will be joined by Tom Bell, of Tomorrow Man, and Associate Professor Michael Flood, who has written widely on issues relating to violence prevention, men and masculinity.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Tomorrow Man general manager Adam Kurdas said the company held workshops to disrupt the traditional Australian male stereotype that's, so to speak, "got us by the balls".
"Where does it come from, why do we adhere to it, is it healthy for us and all the other people in our lives?" he said.
"What is it that we can do to create a healthier version of males or blokes for tomorrow?"
Mr Kurdas encouraged balance, mixing strength with softer skills and connecting with one another.
"Being more open and vulnerable, willing to take the armour off that all of us blokes have, to let a bit in and to share a bit with our loved ones and each other," he said.
Mr Bell will also facilitate a free community workshop for parents, mentors and role models on Thursday evening at Wodonga Bowling Club. Tickets at manboxworkshop.eventbrite.com.au.
Mr Barker said any discussions needed to be collaborative, not lecturing.
"This is about saving lives, not pointing fingers," he said.
"We need to have conversations with younger men now so that as they're coming through they're open, they're empathetic, they're creative, they're communicative.
"And they're not doing all this silly stuff to be a man, like being tough, stoic, strong, not talking, not sharing, because down that path is domestic violence and suicide in the end.
"Ultimately it's about making a better society and a better place for us all to live, it's almost an obligation."
- If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here