Want To Understand Boys? Check This Out
Want To Understand Boys? Check This Out
An incredible series of interviews about why boys are struggling - and what to do about it
When I tell people that I’m co-writing a book about talking to teenage boys, I often get a enthusiastic response — people say they need this book and they need it now. My sense is that many parents and caregivers want to connect with the boys in their lives, but they often don’t know what to say — or even how to get their attention.
Folks know that that it’s important to talk with boys about masculinity and manhood, but many of them don’t know how to start those conversations.
That’s why I’m so thrilled to share the #BoysWillBeBoys Healthy Masculinities Campaign from The Representation Project. This series “seeks to create spaces where boys and men can realize their full human potential, unburdened by the constraints of restrictive masculinity.” The project features interviews with 18 national experts on healthy masculinity who challenge the harmful gender stereotypes associated with manhood.
”This is really our love letter to boys and men,” host Dr Caroline Heldman explains at the start of one of the videos. “Our goal is to provide tools to boys and young men, as well as teachers, coaches, parents, and educators so that we can create spaces where boys can be anything they want to be.”
Here are some of the highlights of the series:
Dr. Judy Chu
Dr. Judy Chu discusses her book, "When Boys Become Boys: Development, Relationships, and Masculinity," and explains how boys develop their identities.
Jeff Perera
Jeff Perera, the founder of Higher Unlearning, is a speaker, writer and facilitator who delivers keynotes, talks, and workshops for tens of thousands of people across North America and beyond. Here, he discusses paths to developing healthy masculinity.
Brad Gage
Brad Gage, the producer and host of Real Feels, discusses the male loneliness epidemic. As a mental health advocate dedicated to breaking the "bro code," Brad is doing crucial work to educate others on these topics. he discusses the primary drivers of the male loneliness epidemic and meaningful ways to address it.
Dr. Linda Tuncay Zayer
Dr. Linda Tuncay Zayer is a professor of marketing at Loyola University Chicago. She discusses the influence of marketing in shaping societal understandings of manhood and masculinity.
Dr. Gary Barker
Dr. Gary Barker is the founder and CEO of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice. He discusses the experiences of boys and men in the U.S. today, and how they respond to restrictive societal messages around masculinity.
Dr. Jackson Katz
Author and Speaker
discusses gender violence prevention, his path to advancing healthy masculinities, and more.Ashanti Branch
, the founder and Executive Director of the Ever Forward Club, explains how he started a mentoring program to support at-risk young men.
But Wait, There Even More…
There’s a total of 18 videos in this series, and they are all worth checking out. My hope is they help get your thinking about the boys and men in your life and how we can make the world they live in a little less restrictive and little more free. Good luck, everyone!
— Christopher
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