“Masculinités en question”: Zurich and Geneva in dialogue on conceptions of masculinity

On 28 August 2026, Denis Ribeaud presented the main findings of the first volume of the study “Masculinity in Flux” in Geneva. The colloquium, organised by the Fondation genevoise pour l'animation socioculturelle (FASe) and the cantonal Bureau de promotion de l'égalité et de prévention des violences (BPEV), brought together 440 participants from practice, public administration and research.

The talk focused on the “M factor” — an empirically derived indicator of restrictive-dominant conceptions of masculinity — its distribution across the population, and its associations with violence in intimate partnerships and in child-rearing. Markus Theunert (männer.ch) then set out the recommendations derived from these findings.

The event was conceived as “regards croisés” between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland: professionals from the Canton and City of Zurich presented their prevention approaches, while Geneva agencies from education, youth work and equality policy outlined their institutional responses. The transfer of research findings into practice was thus at the centre of the day.

The importance the Canton of Geneva attaches to the topic was also reflected in the presence of two members of the cantonal government: State Councillor Nathalie Fontanet opened the colloquium, and Anne Hiltpold, President of the Council of State, delivered the closing address.

The second volume of the study will be published in December 2026.