Many young boys and men have a need for excitement and to feel that they are ‘real men.’ Youth gangs, which appear to be attracting younger and younger members, are largely male.

In a scary and confused world, some boys find a sense of security and family within the gang formation. In a society that does not honour transitions or rites of passage, some boys find those rituals inside a gang. Tests of courage are earned by defying authorities, vandalising, stealing or fighting—in some cases by partaking in senseless acts of gratuitous violence.

However, underpinning all such acts is a misguided sense of masculinity. The media and video games promote, glorify and normalise all forms of violence.

It is time for our communities and the government to start promoting healthy or what I call “sustainable masculinities”
It is time for good men and boys to say “enough” and help the misguided ones to develop healthy forms of masculinity.
It is time to be angry and use that anger to propel community action. Life can be so good, but can be ruined by the acts of the ignorant and underprivileged.