During the interview, Minister Bofferding made it clear that equality concerns all the sexes. Modern men face a number of challenges in today’s world, which far surpass former expectations of physical strength and successful careers. Men should also take care of their children, participate in family life, as well as being aware of their emotions and able to express them. “Dealing with this range of expectations would be challenging for anyone”, concluded the LSAP politician.
When asked about mental health, Minister Bofferding confirmed that men still tend to have a hard time expressing their issues, which may eventually cause serious conditions, such as burnout or depression. However, the helpline “Infomann” has experienced an increase in consultations in recent years. While in 2019, only about 600 men called in over twelve months, this year has already seen more than one thousand consultations.
In terms of domestic abuse, men can just as easily become victims as women, Minister Bofferding noted. 40% of cases where police are alerted to incidents of domestic abuse concern men. In many cases, tensions begin with verbal altercations, which then turn into threats and physical violence, explained the politician.
The LSAP politician also addressed unequal distribution between men and women in employment. For instance, 85% of educators are women, and Minister Bofferding acknowledged that men may very well be put off from the profession by prevailing stereotypes. Next year, a new project entitled “Social Boys” will be launched to help familiarise young men with the everyday life of an educator.
