Tag Archives: masculinity

Gender Equality, Boys and Men



Doing more for boys and men does not require an abandonment of the ideal of gender equality. In fact, it is a natural extension of that. — Richard V. Reeves Those words are from a new book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About … Continue reading Gender Equality, Boys and Men


Empowering Boys to Challenge Rape Culture



Empowering boys to challenge rape culture is one way we can decrease sexual violence, says Gordon Braxton, an anti-violence educator and activist who formerly served as the Director of Men’s Outreach on Sexual Violence Prevention at Harvard University. Currently, most of us “spend little to no time empowering boys to raise their voices against sexual … Continue reading Empowering Boys to Challenge Rape Culture


Michael Ian Black Discusses “A Better Man”



Michael Ian Black shares some important and (mostly serious) thoughts about how to be a better man with his son — and all of us — in his book, A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son. The question of raising good men seems all too significant as the United States (again) wrestles … Continue reading Michael Ian Black Discusses “A Better Man”


Dads, Boys, & Masculinity



Dads need to help boys understand and shape masculinity. In years past, fathers were often “there, but not there,” according to Craig Wilkinson, a dad of two and founder of Father a Nation, a South African nonprofit that addresses gender-based violence, crime and fatherlessness by restoring and equipping  men to be nation-builders, fathers and role … Continue reading Dads, Boys, & Masculinity


Gender Norms Limit Boys (& Girls)



Gender norms still (and unnecessarily!) limit boys, says journalist Lisa Selin Davis, author of Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to be Different. Which may not be an accident, since gender norms (as we know them today) were essentially created to ensure that male children grew into straight, non-homosexual men. “The … Continue reading Gender Norms Limit Boys (& Girls)


Sports & Masculinity



Sports and masculinity have long been intertwined. For a long time, boys and men were the only ones who were allowed to play sports. Athletic fields and locker rooms were seen as places where boys became men. We’ve seen where that can lead. We’ve seen little boys & teenagers told to “man up!”, “rub some … Continue reading Sports & Masculinity


Raising Next Gen Men



How do we raise next gen men — men who can thrive in the 21st century? “When you’re on a playground, you can’t yell, ‘Hey, Tommy, cut that hegemonic masculinity out!’” says Jake Stika, co-founder of Next Gen Men, a Canadian organization dedicated to changing how the world sees, acts and thinks about masculinity. Parents, … Continue reading Raising Next Gen Men


Jack Kammer: Boys are Affected by Sexism Too



Jack Kammer says boys are affected by sexism too.  Boys and girls who engage in the same exact behavior may be treated very differently. And yet, when we fail to acknowledge that fact, we contribute to the gaslighting of our boys. Because the truth is that males and females both experience advantages AND disadvantages related … Continue reading Jack Kammer: Boys are Affected by Sexism Too


To Raise a Boy (w Emma Brown)



In her new book To Raise a Boy, author Emma Brown writes, “This is what I want for my son as he grows up: the ability to be himself without paying a social penalty.”  [NOTE: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence from 16:30-21:30] That’s what we want too. And we get frustrated sometimes … Continue reading To Raise a Boy (w Emma Brown)


How The Book of Dares Can Help Boys



The Book of Dares: 100 Way for Boys to be Kind, Bold and Brave turns “dare culture” on its head.  As you likely know, boys live in a world in which status is never fixed; it’s dependent upon their ability to rise to the challenge, to dominate others and not back down from fights. That’s … Continue reading How The Book of Dares Can Help Boys