Masculinity and Men – Culture Club

Topic:

Masculinity and Men.

materials

This topic discusses masculinity and male-centred issues.

Issues surrounding male equality often get overlooked due to the privilege men hold in society. How should governmental policy and societal norms tackle gender equality for men? Why do fewer men than women go to university? How do we help men with their mental health? What are the pressures of modern media on male body perception? How will longer and better paternity leave help solve gender equality?

UK’s University Gender Gap Is A National Scandal, Says Thinktank – Sally Weale, The Guardian (article, 4 mins)
The Problem With A Fight Against Toxic Masculinity – Michael Salter, The Atlantic (article, 7 mins)
Jamal Edwards Breaks Taboos Around Men’s Mental Health – Jamal Edwards, The Guardian on YouTube (video, 9 mins)
With Superheroes Comes the Pressure of Unrealistic Male Bodies – Raj Chander, Healthline (article, 9 mins)
Why the ‘Nice Guy’ Penalty Disadvantages All Workers – Christine Ro, BBC (article, 10 mins)
A Big Idea for Gender Equality (paternity leave) – Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd (podcast, 57 mins)

Facilitation Notes

Discussion Questions

Why are there less men in university?
Is the gender disparity in educational attainment due to gender differences, class, or possibly a mix of both?
What is statutory paternity leave in the UK and how does it compare to other nations?
What effect do masculinity and male body standards have on mental health?
How can the stigma around male mental health be tackled? Can universities do more?
Is there a societal bias against men who don’t display traditionally masculine traits? How might this manifest at university?
Why does the body positivity movement tend to exclude men?

Resource Personalisation

You could add resources about male issues in your university, such as:

Male attainment or initiatives to increase number of men at universities
Policy around male-centred issues
Opinion pieces or activism around male mental health
Paternity leave in your department

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