Rethinking masculinity: Craig Wilkinson's call for healthy masculinity in South Africa

As the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign concludes on Wednesday, December 10, South African author and men’s development expert Craig Wilkinson continues to advocate the rethinking of modern masculinity. 

Speaking to the CapeTowner Mr Wilkinson said: “True masculinity is a great gift to society”.

“When men understand, embrace, and express their masculine strength with integrity and love, everyone benefits - women, children, and communities alike.”

Mr Wilkinson released his latest book Force for Good: The Power of Healthy Masculinity at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront on Thursday, November 13.

He has since been hosting workshops, creating tangible hope that change is possible when men become dangerous by failing to do the right thing.

They can stop being the abusers, being silent and apathetic towards societal challenges.  

The award-winning social entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, and dad coach challenges the idea that masculinity is inherently the problem.

"Positive masculinity embraces both strength and tenderness - where men are empowered to experience their emotions fully while also providing support and leadership. This isn't about choosing between being strong or being sensitive. It's about being both," he said.

Mr Wilkinson argues that the absence of healthy, positive masculinity is catastrophic, and contributes to the widespread social impact of fatherlessness, gender-based violence, and violent crime.

At its core, the book champions positive masculinity as vital to creating a safe and flourishing society.

The book was launched through a series of events in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, coinciding with International Men's Day, celebrated on Wednesday, November 19, and leading into the 16 Days of Activism campaign, which started on Thursday, November 15. 

These events brought together thought leaders, educators, and influencers in open dialogue about masculinity, purpose, and social transformation.

Mr Wilkinson is an internationally recognised voice on positive masculinity, fatherhood, and gender equality.

In 2010, he founded Father A Nation (FAN), a non-profit, to address the widespread social impact of fatherlessness, such as gender-based violence and violent crime.

His mission through FAN is to restore and equip men to be great fathers, husbands, role models, and nation builders.

Through his books, keynote talks, and development programmes, Mr Wilkinson has inspired thousands of men around the globe to live with love, strength, and purpose.

The release of his book also coincided with social media turning purple and thousands rallying behind the Women For Change Movement, a prominent South African non-profit organisation and a leading anti-gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) movement, advocating for the constitutional rights of women and children.

The movement used purple to symbolise grief and defiance, culminating in the "#G20WomenShutdown" on Friday, November 21, leading to President Cyril Ramaphosa declaring GBV a national disaster and forcing systemic change. 

Mr Wilkinson said: "Men are made to be dangerous, and the world is a safer place for it, but only when that danger is used for good".

He said that this was not a provocative statement about defending men but about demanding better from them.

He explained that while femicide rates in South Africa were five times the global average, women deserved more than awareness campaigns.

"Rape, war, abuse, and neglect all have two things in common: bad men who commit them and weak men who fail to stop them," he said speaking at the 4th Women's Empowerment Ministerial Meeting, in October. 

Force for Good: The Power of Healthy Masculinity is available at leading bookstores and online retailers nationwide.