LECTURE OVERVIEW:

The images and criteria of what it is to be a man in today’s society has become distorted and confusing to many young men. The harassing, homo-phobic, dominating male has, rightly, been instructed that these behaviors are no longer tolerated, but no one has told young men how to handle these feelings when they come up.

In the same manner that females are portrayed in limited ways in the media, so too are males: aggressive and dominating, bodies having to look a certain way, only listening to certain music to be cool, treating each other disrespectfully as a way to connect, etc. For young men, how to behave, what to wear, what your body is supposed to look like, how to relate to other men, etc. are all highly influenced, if not dictated, by the media.

How do you move as a male? Is it okay to be male? What is the definition of male? All of this can be very confusing and cause a backlash when young men dismiss the “politically correct way” and find alternative ways to act out their frustration. There are many programs and information available for young women that challenge the media’s stereotyping of them, but not a lot of information is available for young men.

This lecture boldly addresses these issues- offering tools, strategies and insights that help young men come to their own decisions about manhood. By dispelling the common myths that are a blatant part of our society, this lecture will promote a different way of viewing life and the way young men see themselves in it.

LECTURE OUTLINE:

Here are some of the issues we will discuss:

• Life is difficult, so don’t take it personally
• Contradicting messages
• Respect- the new term for political correctness
• Media stereotypical depiction of men
• Diverse-a-phobic (the fear of all things different)
• Broadening our perspective
• Masculinity is not predicated on someone else’s view
• Movers and holders
• Life strategies for today’s male

LECTURE OUTCOME:

The purpose of this lecture is to provide a safe place for young men to openly and frankly discuss these issues and share real tools, skills, and principles that will enable them to navigate through life and deal with the many commonly held fears so often ignored and avoided. One of the goals is to widen their perspective of what it is to be a man beyond media stereotyped definitions and find their personal way in manhood with respect, dignity and courage.