Utilizing PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, this review synthesizes scientific evidence on interventions addressing violent, hierarchical, and exclusionary models of masculinity linked to gender-based violence, radicalization, and backlash against gender equality. The growing appeal of authoritarian ideologies among young men can be traced to two interrelated dynamics: structural economic decline and resistance to progressive gender norms. As traditional roles tied to male economic dominance erode, anti-democratic movements exploit discontent by promoting nostalgic, patriarchal visions of masculinity and framing gender equality as a threat.
The review identifies and evaluates interventions in three domains: (1) reduction of gender-based violence, challenging norms legitimizing aggression; (2) reframing masculinity, fostering caring, cooperative, and empathetic male identities; and (3) bystander empowerment, training individuals to recognize and interrupt harmful behaviors. Effective programs share key characteristics: research-based, context-sensitive, participatory, and inclusive of all genders. Findings emphasize the need for long-term investment in facilitator training, systematic evaluation, and adaptive learning to ensure lasting impact. Addressing intersectional dimensions of race, class, and geography emerges as essential for authenticity and effectiveness in promoting gender equality and democratic resilience.
