The Man Box | Toxic Masculinity vs. Healthy Masculinity

Entrance Procedure: Phones in the door. Turn in Reading Log Week 20. Write down homework and update agenda with upcoming due dates. Prep for Jedi Meditation. (1 min of class time)

HW E9 & E9H:

Read 45 (Week 21- due Tues/Wed)

Field Notes #1 due Tues/Wed

Objective: Jedis will be able to identify and discuss rules society has taught us about the roles of men and boys and women and girls. Jedis will understand how to conduct observations and complete field notes analyzing their observation for specific concepts related to gender.

1. What do you think? Complete a pre-assessment quiz so Ms. Kelly can gather your thoughts. It is anonymous. Be honest. :)

2.  Post Its | What does a "real man" do/not do, say, look like/not look like?

3. The Man Box | Volunteers share their words whole class. Explain the words and why they are associated with manhood. Place definitions of "real men" outside of box & aggregate the descriptions on the board. Discussion questions:

• Why do we all seem to have a similar understanding of the rules of "manliness"?
• What inconsistencies in these expectations do we see? 
• How might these rules and expectations be unhealthy for boys and men?
• What do the names and phrases boys use to police each other have in common?
• What could boys and men be, do, and accomplish if we threw away this box of rules and expectations?
• What rules have you omitted about any rules that they may have omitted and ask them what restrictions they create for boys and men, and what possibilities could exist without the rules. 

4.  Explain | The Man Box is a metaphor. The box represents the man box, which is full of definitions of manhood that can box men in and limit what they can and cannot do or feel.

• Key Words: 
• The way we are socialized to think about gender is that there is a right way and a wrong way to be a male or a female. No one is to blame—we’ve all been taught this.
• The box can negatively impact boys and men by forcing them to always be on guard and ready to “prove” their masculinity and manhood.
• The box also teaches boys that one way to have power is to taunt other boys for being “girlie” or feminine. These messages lay the foundation for male dominance and sexism, as they create associations between femininity and inferiority.
• Words that represent violent behaviors or name-calling are associated with punishments for breaking these rules. They are also reminders to all males and females that they need to stay in the box in order to be safe. 
• The "possibility box" is what boys and men could be, do, and accomplish if we threw away the toxic rules and expectations of the Man Box.

5.  Boxing Boys In | Fill out the box on the worksheet with the common rules and expectations of "real men." 

6. Exit Slip & Discussion | Fill in the possibility box. 

• What do you want to be true for boys and men? 
• What would allow boys and men to be, do and accomplish healthy concepts of masculinity?
• How do we create opportunities for the possibility box to become common place?