What does ‘masculinity’ mean today? On Being a Man brings together four men to consider the condition of Scottish men, reflect on their own backgrounds and experiences, and confront some of the most difficult issues men face. These include the changing roles of men in Scottish society, the role of work and employment. What it means to be a man is very different from forty years ago: in terms of expectations, relationships, how men relate to partners, bring up children and what constitutes a modern family. However, there is a dark side of Scottish masculinity – seen in the drinking, violent, abusive behaviour of some Scots men, and this book addresses this directly, getting into issues many of us often shy away from confronting. Draws on the wide-ranging voices of: journalist, writer and broadcaster, David Torrance; founder of a youth employment and mentoring charity, Sandy Campbell; public health researcher, Pete Seaman; and former policeman and head of the violence reduction unit, John Carnochan.

This book presents the findings of studies looking the strategies deployed by parents and children living in high stress neighbourhoods to safeguard children's safety and well-being. Recent government policies in relation to child welfare, juvenile justice and area regeneration all emphasise the importance of effective parenting. Parent-focussed interventions impact primarily on families living in disadvantaged communities, but there has been relatively little research into the distinctive challenges of bringing up children in these areas, nor of children's perspectives on identifying and managing threats. In particular we know very little about the steps parents and children take to promote their children's well-being and safeguard them from the risks they encounter in their daily lives. This research examines the experiences of parents and children living in four disadvantaged areas in the West of Scotland ..