Men's Engagement
Masculinities Engagement Network
The Masculinities Engagement Network at BGSU is an initiative by the CWGE and GVPES to engage men - including students, faculty, and staff - as leaders in education for the entire BGSU community on gender equity, masculinity, and violence prevention. In Summer 2019, the Masculinities Engagement Network received an Innovation Initiative Grant out of the Division of Student Affairs to implement a campus-wide initiative engaging students in conversations about healthy masculinities and power-based violence. This page details the work semester-by-semester work of the Men's Engagement Network, including pre-existing programming/events and projects related to the Innovation Initiative grant.
Intended Outcomes
1. identify the differences between healthy and unhealthy masculinities;
2. recognize and describe how gender roles, power, and privilege play a role in the way we define what it means to be masculine;
3. be empowered to be an active bystander and be able to identify the various ways to assist someone in a challenging situation.
Seth Campbell
Student Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, BGSU Firelands
Gabe Dunbar
Non-Traditional and Military Student Services
Vanguard
Stacey Allan
Fraternity & Sorority Life
Chet Hesson
Student Athletics Services
Monday, November 1, 11:00AM – 1:00PM (Post-It) Notes on Masculinity
Students can stop by the CWGE table in the Student Union and take the opportunity to write/draw the answers to the questions “What do you think of when you hear the word masculine?” or “If you could re-write the definition of masculinity, what would it be?” on post-it notes. The post-its will be displayed on the CWGE bulletin board for the month and will be highlighted on our social media.
Wednesday, November 17, 12:00PM – 1:00PM – Wall of Song Project Panel Discussion and Q&A
Join the CWGE and CVPE in a virtual conversation with Mel Day, Dr. Akilah R. Carter-Francique, and Emma Calow as they discuss the Wall of Song Project and intersectional gender equity in sports.
Monday, November 22, 11:00AM – 1:00PM – White Ribbon Day
CWGE and CVPE feminist ambassadors will pass out white ribbons with informative postcards to commemorate the International Day of the Eradication of Violence Against Women (which falls on November 25 this year) and to invite men and boys to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all forms of gender-based violence. By promoting healthy masculinities along with gender equity and racial justice, we believe that together we can foster safe and healthy relationships and communities.
Tuesday, November 30, 7:00PM – 9:00PM – The Mask You Live In – Film Screening and Mask Making Event
This event includes a screening of the documentary The Mask You Live In and gives students the opportunity to decorate white face masks with different things they think are part of their “mask” of masculinity, or their “mask” that they wear in society. White masks, fabric markers, and light refreshments will be provided.
Film Synopsis: The Mask You Live In (dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, 2015) is a documentary that follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.
Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.
Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it.
The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.
63 conversations with students, faculty, and staff at Union tables, including topics such as:
- International Men's Day
- White Ribbon Day
- Power-based violence
- Violence against women
- 72 additional faculty, staff, and students engaged in extended discussion with Dr. Brown through Faculty/Staff Coffee Break, Student Lunch, Men's Soccer Miracle Morning, and the Team Player Program
87 students, faculty, and staff from BGSU main campus and BGSU Firelands met to discuss healthy masculinities through Men's Engagement Socials and Healthy Masculinities Workshops
17 students and community members attended Men's Action NOW, to discuss popular culture's affect on masculinity and how to enact positive social change on gender expectations, in partnership with The Cocoon
Last updated December 2019
"As the Graduate Student Trustee on BGSU's Board of Trustees, I support the Masculinities Engagement Network (MEN) because I believe in the power of education to order to move the needle in a positive direction on gender equity, masculinity, and violence prevention." -Cody Clemons
Updated: 05/09/2023 02:05PM