DEBATE. Who truly values Sweden’s sons? Ebba Busch recently wrote in Dagens Nyheter that Sweden needs a new kind of masculinity—disciplined and ready for war. She frames this as a way to care for boys. But what does it really say about how we value men’s lives, when masculinity is defined by a willingness to die? If the ultimate expression of manhood is self-sacrifice, then it’s not about protecting boys—it’s about turning them into tools.So who actually cares about boys, or men for that matter? Is it the one urging them toward war and control—or the one who wants to offer them a life free from violence, emotional shutdown, and isolation? ” What does it really say about how we value men’s lives, when masculinity is defined by a willingness to die? Busch accuses feminism of diminishing boys. But that’s a false narrative. The feminism that we—and many others—stand for has spent decades showing how gender norms harm not only women, but men too. Feminism has opened the door to new ways of being a boy or a man—ways that don’t require men to earn their worth by being strong, silent, and hard.Turning away from that progress isn’t just an attack on feminism—it’s a betrayal of boys and men alike. Because when women are made out to be the root of men’s problems, those problems only get worse. Boys’ mental health becomes a political weapon instead of a serious societal issue that requires compassion and action.We live in a time when people are expected to be efficient, disciplined, and measurable. Busch proposes a version of masculinity rooted in performance. But men are not machines. We are human beings—with emotions, and needs for closeness, tenderness, and understanding. ” Encouraging men to be vulnerable, attentive, and empathetic doesn’t make them feminine—it makes them whole. At MÄN, we have over 30 years of experience working with men and boys across Sweden. We lead discussion groups for fathers, train schools and municipalities in violence prevention, and support men dealing with mental health issues. We know there is a deep yearning among men for something beyond silence and toughness. Violence can’t be punished away—it must be prevented through care. Cracking down harder just creates harder men. And ultimately, a harder society.Shahab Ahmadian, chairperson of MÄN