Respectful Relationships 

Respectful Relationships Term 4

Recently I attended a Community of Practice (CoP) lead by the Outer East Respectful Relationships Team on Positive Masculinity. This was a very interesting and informative session, which focused on identifying strategies and activities to promote healthy masculinities and gaining an understanding of how Respectful Relationships supports the development of healthy masculinities.

Definition of healthier masculinities characterised by: 

• equality and respect

• non-violence

• reflection and self-awareness

• emotional expression and vulnerability, and 

• accountability

Source: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/VicHealth-Healthier-Masculinities-Framework-V2.pdf

As a group we dove deeper into the behaviours we are seeing within our schools and sharing best practice on how we are supporting our young people in this area. We took a look at the Year 5 and Year 6 Topic 7: Gender Norms and Stereo Types, Activity 4: Media messages, gender policing and peer pressure. The network team shared with us how we can deliver this lesson, and others, in a way that opens up discussions and achieves the Learning Intentions for the lesson, which are listed below.

Students will be able to:

• describe the ways gender norms are perpetuated by the media, including how social media can influence beliefs about how to behave

• identify strategies that peers may use to negatively reinforce gender norms through a form of peer pressure called ‘gender policing’

• identify strategies that can be used to challenge gender policing.

(Topic: 7 Activity: 4 Years 5 and 6)

The RRRRs materials support the development of healthy masculinities through age appropriate activities by: 

• Explore the impacts of rigid gender norms 

• Enable students to challenge gender norms and stereotypes 

• Explore gender policing (encouraging, rewarding or complimenting adherence to gendered expectations) 

• Explore the impact that gendered expectations can have on healthy, respectful relationships.

One of my key take aways from this CoP to apply when teaching healthy masculinities with students and in other areas of the RRRR curriculum is:

• Be curious not furious 

• Acknowledge that children and young people are the experts of their own world 

• Identify, celebrate and build on personal strengths

Karen Corrales

RR Lead

The Respectful Relationships curriculum provide a strong foundation for the way we learn, play and care for one another at school. At Karoo, Respectful Relationships is closely connected to our school values of Kindness, Personal Excellence and Tenacity. 

RRRR information available on the Arc platform. Please scan the QR code above.