Navigating Masculinities and Social Change: Lessons from Single-Sex Boys’ Schools in Queensland, Australia

Gender justice and equity are critical in education, shaping boys’ development as empathetic and inclusive global citizens. However, entrenched gender norms often constrain boys' engagement with these principles. At the same time, masculinities are increasingly fragmented, with some boys embracing inclusivity while others remain tied to traditional norms. This study explores how educators, students, and alumni in single-sex boys’ schools negotiate hegemonic masculinities, both reinforcing and challenging them. It investigates how these settings foster inclusion amidst complex social change, where boys face conflicting messages about masculinity. Using qualitative data from focus groups and interviews, the study explores how narratives of masculinity are constructed, resisted, and redefined. This research contributes to broader social justice debates about gender equity, highlighting the potential for schools to be spaces where more inclusive, empathetic forms of gender can be nurtured, in contrast to the more rigid, traditional models that dominate current public discourse.