Armenian women changing opinion on males - poll 

ArmInfo.  A survey conducted  within the framework of the "Positive Masculinity 2.0" program among more than 2,000 young men aged 16 to 25 showed that ideas about the modern image of a man in Armenia are changing.

Thus, according to a message received by ArmInfo, today young men  associate their ideas about masculinity not with physical strength,  but with internal qualities. However, along with this positive trend,  the survey showed that a significant portion of young men still  consider violence acceptable. And although both boys and girls, as  the study shows, attach more importance to compassion, responsibility  and kindness than to aggression, at the same time a significant  number of boys are still tolerant of domestic violence.

According to the survey, while 93% of women categorically reject the  idea that "sometimes it's fair for a man to beat his wife," the same  figure for men is 84%. "This difference suggests that women are more  likely to see a connection between negative male standards and  domestic violence, which most men reject," the study notes.

As Elena Kiryushina, Gender Equality and Youth Specialist at the  UNAIDS Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia,  emphasized, the fact that one in ten young men is willing to justify  domestic violence is a clear sign that efforts need to be focused on  strengthening positive masculinity and developing emotional  intelligence.

The study also found that while Armenian women value men's caring for  their partners and children more, men, in turn, are more likely to  prioritize traditional qualities such as "defending honor with their  fists" and military service. It is also noted that family, friends,  and society have a significant influence on the perception of  masculinity in Armenian society.

"The study also showed that young men are more influenced by  stereotypes of traditional Armenian culture, while for women, media  and social media play a significant role," the study continues.

However, commenting on the study's findings, Armi Mkrtchyan, a gender  specialist at TeensLIVE Armenia, noted that the survey results  demonstrate a willingness among Armenian youth to challenge old  stereotypes and rethink what it means to be a man. "By prioritizing  compassion and responsibility over aggression, they are paving the  way for healthier relationships and a more equal society. The  insights gained will be important for the development of future youth  programs and the discussion of gender equality policies in Armenia,"  Mkrtchyan emphasized.

According to the source, innovative tools were created based on the  obtained results, in particular a Telegram bot with artificial  intelligence called "Barujan", which provides young people with  information on mental health, gender equality and violence, as well  as a teaching aid designed for students in grades 7- 10 as part of  the "Healthy Lifestyle" course. The program was implemented by  TeensLIVE Armenia with the support of UNESCO and the Joint United  Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and is in line with Armenia's  gender strategy for 2025-2028.