For the past few months I’ve been working on promoting HEAL careers to boys. HEAL is an acronym for health, education, administration and literacy, and my core argument is that we need to promote these careers to boys in the same way that we promote STEM careers to girls.
This is an issue which needs more public debate to raise awareness of why it is so important, and showcase the multiple societal benefits that could be achieved. If we want to change the narrative on modern masculinity, we need to think about how we educate boys and what careers we signpost them to. Gender balance in the HEAL professions could have incredible benefits across a broad range of issues and this is a campaign that needs to get off the ground, and soon.
Rather than go over the data and the arguments in this piece, I will instead signpost you to three articles that I was recently involved in publishing:
TES: Why schools should promote HEAL careers to boys
International Men’s Day Blog 2024: Celebrating Positive Male Role Models
If you would like to read up on the current challenges in boys’ education, and the wider issues facing men in society, I can recommend these three books:
Of Boys and Men – Richard Reeves
What About Men? – Caitlin Moran
Boys Don’t Try? Rethinking Masculinity in Schools – Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts
So, let’s make a start. Let’s get rid of gender bias in promoting careers in schools, and bring greater balance to the workforce. We need more men to be nursery practitioners, primary teachers and mental health nurses and many more worthy careers in the caring professions. Think about what you can do to put your shoulder to the wheel.
Cover Image credit: Evan Tobin (check out more of his work on this website, it’s fantastic)
@robin_macp 