LEFgozers challenges the macho norm and creates space for new, more positive forms of masculinity. Often, this is already a side of boys that is present, but they are less likely to show it because they are unsure whether this is accepted behavior for a boy.

Workshop content

LEFgozers is a series of workshops for boys between the ages of 14 and 18, in which the macho norm is challenged and space is created for new, more positive forms of masculinity. The workshops can be given by youth workers or at school. LEFgozers contributes to:

  • preventing (sexually) transgressive behavior,
  • increasing acceptance of LGBT people,
  • healthy (sexual) development of the boys themselves.

Through interactive exercises and assignments, boys discover how they can define their own masculinity. By advising one another and other boys on this, a conversation gets started among the boys in which courage no longer stands for macho behavior, but for following your own path.

LEFgozers is based on the workshops from the Beat the Macho campaign. During this campaign – a forerunner of LEFgozers – a small-scale study was also conducted. In it, Rutgers investigated the level of support among boys for working on the themes of masculinity and macho behavior, and the way in which stereotypical images of masculinity influence their lives. View the results here.

LEFgozers has already produced positive results:

  • Less problem behavior among boys: LEFgozers gives boys the skills they need to follow their own path and not be persuaded to do things they do not actually want to do. Without losing their self-esteem.
  • Tools for supervisors to prevent problem behavior: Supervisors gain insight into the role played by the pressure to behave like a macho in the choices boys make, as well as possible ways to guide boys in developing into men who can form relationships in a healthy way, with girls, their friends and themselves.

Who developed LEFgozers?

LEFgozers was developed by Rutgers, in cooperation with Movisie, Soa Aids Nederland and local partners: Kompaan en de Bocht (Tilburg), Sense Noord Nederland, Qpido (Spirit, Amsterdam), R-Newt (Dordrecht), Social Work Breda, Centrum 1622 (The Hague) and Stichting de Schoor (Almere).

LEFgozers was made possible by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

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