Fresh, gender-specific insights about men and boys for
schools, service providers, policy makers and community leaders.
ManSkills℠
Everyone wants to be respected, but for men and boys the means for earning respect can be narrow and limiting. Some of the ways in which many males try to gain respect are by being physically tough, aggressive and dominant; being emotionally aloof and stoic; making ostentatious displays of material wealth; having sex at every opportunity; and acting as if doing well in school is for chumps and punks. These attempts to earn respect often lead to violence, depression, failure and other interpersonal and intrapersonal problems, to say nothing of widespread social difficulties in the community.
Historically, women and girls also were limited in the ways they could gain respect. But over the past several decades they have awakened long-ignored talents, entered fields formerly closed to them, and developed new skills for which they are increasingly recognized and applauded.
Now we need to do the same for men and boys. The Center for Men and Boys in Social Policy offers ManSkills℠, a customizable program of exercises, role-plays and discussions, to equip and empower men and boys to:
- recognize the biases, stereotypes and gender limitations that operate against them
- understand the original purposes of these expectations and decide how they can successfully be updated
- identify their deepest values and wishes, regardless of how they differ from what “real men” are “supposed” to be and do
- recognize and understand their emotions and feelings, and accept them as worthy of attention and expression
- deal with others in strong, healthy, non-violent and appropriately assertive ways that resist peer pressure and unfair demands
- build and sustain a positive network of men and women, boys and girls who support wider options for males
- define and pursue happiness and success in the ways that work best for them, keeping in mind what they truly value most, including other people they love and care about.