Posted on May 8, 2019
On A Kansas College Campus, A Search for A 21st-Century Sense Of Masculinity
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For nine weeks, Zyrie Berry-Henricks has been meeting with four other University of Kansas students to try to answer the question: What does it mean to be a man?
It’s part of KU’s Men’s Action Project, a 10-week program where male students discuss masculinity — both healthy and toxic.
For Hendricks, the program gives him a chance to have a conversation with other men about masculinity beyond the don’t-be-a-jerk lesson.
“We’re past the basics,” Hendricks said. “We’re now in the conversation about how to be good. How to be beneficial. How to be positive, especially when it comes to how you portray and express your masculinity.”
It’s part of KU’s Men’s Action Project, a 10-week program where male students discuss masculinity — both healthy and toxic.
For Hendricks, the program gives him a chance to have a conversation with other men about masculinity beyond the don’t-be-a-jerk lesson.
“We’re past the basics,” Hendricks said. “We’re now in the conversation about how to be good. How to be beneficial. How to be positive, especially when it comes to how you portray and express your masculinity.”
On A Kansas College Campus, A Search for A 21st-Century Sense Of Masculinity
Posted from kcur.org
Sex
Gender
Culture
Society
University of Kansas
Posted >1 y ago
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Hmmm-I'm a bit surprised at my own initial impressions.
I want to be absolutely clear; from what I can see, a portion of our society has/is/will continue to mistake (or intentional mislabel) aberrant, intolerable behavior as "endemic'...casually castigating very positive traits essential to development in both men and women. Still, and irrespective of the outcomes... it does appear this program is trying to correct at least some of that misdiagnosis.
Being a "man", as I see it, is pretty simple actually... but it varies from person to person, based on their circumstances. A husband has a different set of obligations than a bachelor, a father, more still. A doctor has responsibilities that diverge from those of a police officer. Both can have equal circumstances outside of their professions.
It's probably easier to define what "isn't" being a man; I'd start that list with refusing to accept responsibility, being churlish, petty, disengaged...true cowardice, which isn't being wise enough to pick one's battles, but refusing to take a stand when necessary for what one believes is important. I'd certainly add in using one's strength to domineer over others...which is different from leading from a position of strength.
When I look around, I see a lot of young men who fall on the extremes of a spectrum-some are too passive, others... too aggressive. There's balance, and if nothing else, that may be the hallmark of a man.
I want to be absolutely clear; from what I can see, a portion of our society has/is/will continue to mistake (or intentional mislabel) aberrant, intolerable behavior as "endemic'...casually castigating very positive traits essential to development in both men and women. Still, and irrespective of the outcomes... it does appear this program is trying to correct at least some of that misdiagnosis.
Being a "man", as I see it, is pretty simple actually... but it varies from person to person, based on their circumstances. A husband has a different set of obligations than a bachelor, a father, more still. A doctor has responsibilities that diverge from those of a police officer. Both can have equal circumstances outside of their professions.
It's probably easier to define what "isn't" being a man; I'd start that list with refusing to accept responsibility, being churlish, petty, disengaged...true cowardice, which isn't being wise enough to pick one's battles, but refusing to take a stand when necessary for what one believes is important. I'd certainly add in using one's strength to domineer over others...which is different from leading from a position of strength.
When I look around, I see a lot of young men who fall on the extremes of a spectrum-some are too passive, others... too aggressive. There's balance, and if nothing else, that may be the hallmark of a man.
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