Category Archives: Equality

Hyper-Masculinity as an Entry to Gender Exploration

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As a lot of people that are in student affairs, I am at the #NASPA12 conference this week in Phoenix, AZ. I had the amazing opportunity before the actual conference started to participate in one of the pre-conference workshops sponsored by the Men and Masculinities Knowledge Community. I had never done a pre-con before, but I think I am hooked and will try to do more in the future, and maybe even present one at some point. It was a great opportunity to dive into a topic area and get the ins and outs of the research, discussion, and ideas surrounding Creating and Sustaining Men’s Groups on Campus. There was a great group of scholars and practitioners there to share their knowledge. The things I learned there, and the takeaways are still running through my head. I think this will probably be the first of many posts on masculinity coming up on tomLfritz.com, so I hope you enjoy this topic as much as I do.

Hyper-masculinity. The concept was new to me as I heard it in the pre-con. It basically means that at times, males will exhibit strongly stereotypical traits in order to show the world that he is a man. It’s the idea that guys only get together, get in fights, eat bacon, and look for women. The concept got me thinking, how often do we use hyper-masculinity as a program topic or draw to start the discussion around gender identity and expression? How many have seen, or approved, a program where a male RA will host a Halo Tournament, or steak BBQ, or football party, and then once they are there, start a discussion about alternate views of masculinity? I know I have seen this before.

And it isn’t always bad. We get the macho guys and ones that would normally not come to programs out and talking about healthy ways to “be a man” that don’t involve punching things, or people, and they have some fun. Let’s face it, promoting a program on masculine identity called “come out and break stereotypes by talking about your feelings” doesn’t have the same ring to it. I have seen several times when these programs have been very successful, and the conversation has been eye opening. But there is a problem with making this your soul point of entry into the topic.

The only people that show up are the ones that express themselves that way already. There are plenty of men who are into theater, or singing, or all sorts of other things, and wouldn’t be drawn into a program where you watch football, play video games, eat steaks and cook bacon. These are the men that would bring an entire new dimension to the conversation.

Does this mean you should not approve any bacon programs, or game watches, or other hyper-masculine programs? No, it doesn’t mean that at all. But, if you have a student that is interested in encouraging discussions around gender identity and expression, challenge them to allow for more than one point of entry. Hyper-masculinity can be one entry, but cannot be the only one.

How are you working with students, or what strategies have you used that have been successful in talking about gender expression?

Inclusivity: You are what you eat

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First off, I am feeling slightly guilty that I have so neglected you poor blog (and readers) this summer. I figured I would have the time to write several times a week while I was in the lazy days of summer. Needless to say, my first summer as a full time professional hasn’t really looked like Ferris Bueler’s Day Off. But, I am back, and I am setting the goal of writing at least once every other week once I get through training and opening (aka, through August).

But, I would like to start this new season on tomLfritz.com with a different view on a topic that we talk about a lot; being inclusive.

I was recently asked by my doctor to take this blood test called a Blood Print test. Apparently she thought that some of the issues I have been having recently came from food sensitivities that I had previously not known about. I took it, and, surprise surprise, I am now reactive to over 30 different foods. Among these are baker’s yeast, wheat, cow’s milk, eggs, and most of the other foods that I enjoy on a daily basis (I am also allergic to brewer’s yeast, malt, and barley. Anyone want to guess what those three things help make?). I have been encouraged to follow a gluten-free, lactose-free, and, in my opinion, taste-free, diet. I am trying to ease off on the foods that trigger reactions in me, but find it very difficult to cut it out all together.

I promise you, there is a point coming soon.

As many of us are gearing up for the start of the semester, you may have trainings, kick off meetings, welcome back dinners, and events that are going to have food at them. I am serving on our RA training committee, and have been listening in on the menus for the meals we are providing, see if these sound familiar; box lunches with sandwiches, lasagna, chicken parm, burgers and hot dogs, pizza. Anyone know what these all have in common? They all contain gluten, lactose, and tend to be very high in calories for those of us that are keeping on with the #sa11fit community. Now we are offering students that identify with different dietary needs the option for a separate meal, and I have pushed for these meals to be more than a plate of grilled veggies or the salad that comes with the lasagna.

We tend to look for mass appeal when we pick meals for students and staff, things that are cheap and things that a majority of people like. And I am not saying thats not the best way to go. I just encourage everyone to think about those underrepresented people that maybe have food allergies that are going through training. Providing all gluten free meals and lactose free meals will be very costly, and some people just would not approve. If you are going to provide options to self-disclose dietary needs, make sure they are worthy options.

Finally, I would also say to make sure you take into account things other than dietary restrictions focused around health. For instance, if you have staff or students that practice Islam, during the month of Ramadan, which tends to be over the time of opening and trainings, they are expected to fast during daylight hours, which is when most of us tend to train. Having a staff member that fasted for his faith last year taught me that doing physical activities late in the day could cause him to be lightheaded or weak. There are also students that follow halal, or kosher, or other things that are too numerous to mention.

I don’t mean to seem preachy, just hoping to provide some food for thought (pardon the pun). Remember, when thinking about food for trainings and meetings, being inclusive sometimes means eating outside of the box.