In her recent blog post, Sparking Joy For Our Boys: Marie Kondo and the Gillette Ad, Alana DiMario reflects on what we want (or don’t want) for our future and for our boys:
“Thanks to the ongoing work of the feminist movement, we have long had a model for thinking about and encouraging our daughters to step outside the roles that were traditionally defined for them. I can buy my daughter a navy blue “Strong Like Mom” t-shirt at Target, and no one blinks an eye at the fact that she has several favorite dinosaurs and not a clue about My Little Ponies. Women continue to fight their way into traditionally male-dominated arenas, and society is slowly continuing to adapt. As this new year dawns, we see highlighted in mainstream media the flip side to this coin: striving for equality means our sons also get to step outside the roles that have been traditionally defined for them, and lead lives that are more whole.”
I again find myself asking, what / where / how do we help our boys to challenge their traditional narrow gender role. I know the “who” – that’s easy, that’s all of us. As I keep asking these questions I am inspired that the “when” is now. Increasingly, my inbox is filled with friends sending me articles about Toxic Masculinity and gender roles. The urgency is clear, America is being governed by men who embody toxic masculinity. These current conversations are essential, our sons – and daughters are counting on us.
Here are a few recent good reads:
It’s Time To Take Up Arms In The War Against Toxic Masculinity
This is the year we finally recognize how much toxic masculinity hurts our sons
The backlash to the Gillette ads is exactly why it’s needed
Please share widely.
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