Tackling Toxic Masculinity – Monthly Discussions

WHAT IS THE EVENT ALL ABOUT?

For many out there, male stereotypes that exist leave us sometimes disappointed in the male gender, sometimes at loss for where we fit into it. And sometimes worse.

Whatever your experience, if you are looking for an opportunity to meet supportive people with similar questions and a desire to find solutions and change – you’ve found it!

This event series is designed to be a safe space for the sharing of personal struggles relating to toxic masculinity. All are welcome.

This event was founded to help support the following goals:

• What challenges are being experienced in this space?
• How can we work together to constructively adjust/grow from these challenges?
• More broadly, how can we affect change in male stereotypes in society so that it is less negative, less binary, and ultimately more inclusive both psychologically and socially.

A COUPLE OF CAVEATS:

• This IS NOT a group for mocking, complaining about, discriminating against, or abusing ANY other genders, sexualities or minorities
• This IS NOT a group for anyone who thinks that it is only the world around us that must change. We all have a part to play in the change.
• This IS NOT a group for Alpha bashing. Positivity must prevail in all discussions.

THE BIG ONE

• This group is a safe place for people to share sometimes highly personal experiences of toxic masculinity. So, respect is an absolute, as well as patience.

DEFINING TOXIC MASCULINITY

Whilst others might vary, the definition of TOXIC MASCULINITY that we consider in this group and event series is as follows:

Toxic masculinity refers to certain cultural norms that are associated with harm to society and men themselves.

In part, this relates to traditional stereotypes of men as socially dominant, misogynistic, and homophobic. The toxicity of these traits stems from undue judgement, abuse and ultimately violence towards “non-male” counterparts.

For me personally, it also stems from presumed male self-reliance, emotional repression, and stoicism. These all correlate with increased psychological problems in men such as depression, increased stress, and substance use disorders. Toxic masculine traits are therefore the consequence of an unspoken and unreasoned code of behaviour among men.

A code that needs rewriting.

SO HOW DO THE SESSIONS WORK?

In time, sessions may end up more structured. However, to begin with, they will just be simple, social, and safe.

We will meet at the Soto Co Community Hub in Mount Lawley once per month, for two+ hours.

For the first 20 minutes, we will mingle and meet newcomers.

Each discussion will begin with a brief introduction to the session, reiterating our rules and goals.

Then for 1.5 hours, we will have a roundtable discussion about people’s respective experiences and ideas they want to share.

I will chair the discussion with two main goals:

• No one should feel obligated to contribute – you are welcome just to absorb and listen
• But for anyone who wants to, I will ensure they are given the time and space to voice their thoughts and ideas

Once the discussion has either run out of steam / it is 20:00 (whichever comes sooner) we will relax back into mingling mode. By 20:30 we will have either peeled off to the pub or be ready to call it a night.