THEY function in a society where men are denigrated if they dare to wilt under the pressure to be providers, protectors and whatever else is deemed necessary to earn the label ‘a real man’.

These professionals are called male development specialists — men and women who serve as a conduit for the upliftment of males on the road to self-acceptance and defining, for themselves, what it means to be a man.

Career & Education speaks this week to Marlon Moore, himself a male development specialist with Sistren Theatre Collective, for insight into the work that they do.

The 44-year-old, a former student of New York University where he majored in accounting, has worked with Sistren Theatre Collective for the past three years, having served in the field for nine years.

At Sistren, Moore, the father of two boys, plans and co-ordinates activities designed to engage young men, does school outreach and documents the findings of their engagement with the males they serve.

Currently a student at the University of the West Indies where he is completing a diploma in the principles and techniques of counselling, Moore previously worked with the entity Building and Enriching Minds Through Empowerment. The former student of Campion College in Kingston and Christopher Columbus High in New York, also at one time operated a fish market in the ‘Big Apple’ and did bookkeeping.

Who is a male development specialist?

My role as a male development specialist is to engage young men, especially those from underserved communities, regarding issues that affect them in their various roles — as fathers, partners and providers. I work also with children within the school system to build life skills and awareness on issues of gender and gender-based violence.

What is the value of the work that you do?

The work that we are a part of is, in essence, invaluable. The truth is, our youth have lost their identity, their purpose. They are unsure as to their roles and responsibilities as men and women. Thus, we try to provide a clear direction and assist them in redefining themselves so they can realise their goals and dreams.

What was it that prompted your entry into the field?

My entry into this field came after exploring the plethora of issues facing ‘man and man’. I realised that the absence of fathers and positive male role models are some of the things that are lacking which, in turn, drive many youth to wander aimlessly and turn to drugs and crime and violence. In fact, statistics complement our analysis of the situation. And again it goes back to the issue of knowledge of self, that is, knowing what is expected of you as man and the ways to achieve those objectives.

What are the academic requirements for getting into the field?

The academic requirements for getting into the field are a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences.

What other skills and/or competencies are required for entry into the field?

I believe that the most important requirement one has to have is excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to listen. Experience working with youth (is also a plus). It is very important to ‘overstand’ (understand) youth issues as well as the dynamics of our underserved communities.

What do you most enjoy about the work that you do?

One of the most satisfying aspects of the job is the radical transformation of the ‘man and man’ in Hannah Town — those involved in the corner reasoning sessions. In the beginning, these men would neither sign their names — not even aliases — nor allow any photographs to be taken (of them). After months of engagement and earning their trust, they allowed us to capture their pictures and thus began signing their real names to attendance sheets. What deserves special emphasis is that they also allowed a live streaming of a ‘corner reasoning’ session to the United Nations in New York and spoke truthfully about their challenges, abuse of women and finding practical solutions. Big up to the ‘man and man’ in Hannah Town who rose to the occasion and continue to speak from the heart.

What are the challenges you face on the job?

I think the number one challenge is the issue of violence. A number of these communities are extremely volatile so violence can happen anytime and for various reasons. For example, in Rockfort we were working with a number of youth and making real headway with them. In fact, we were in the process of engaging RADA (Rural Agriculture Development Authority) to assist with a small garden/farm. Violence broke out and because a number of these young men came from different sections (of the community), the sessions were cancelled as many did not cross the borders. Even after the violence eased, and we tried to revive the reasoning sessions, the attendance remained extremely low till it had to be cancelled. Lack of funding for youth programmes is another major challenge.

How much can one earn as a male development specialist on an annual basis?

The salary range for a male development specialist is between $960,000 and $1.8 million.

Why would you advise anyone to get into this line of work?

I strongly believe that we are in a serious crisis in Jamaica and I’m not even cautiously optimistic that it can change without everyone realising that we have a responsibility to become involved in finding solutions to the issues we are confronted with as a nation. That said, if we ‘overstand’ our reality and indeed want change, I implore young men and women to become involved.