University Sought to Address the Troubling Aspects of “Masculinity”

By Kody Fairfield

The University of Wisconsin- Madison (UW-Madison) finds itself in the news again as it continues to promote a “politically correct” campus. Last week a story was released about their African Cultural Studies class 405, which is called “The Problem of Whiteness.” This week, it’s over a newsletter which has been circulating the campus calling on males to join a program which will analyze the “troubling” aspects of “masculinity.”

According to a newsletter released on the UW-Madison’s Health Services page, the university is asking for applicants who are “male or male identifying” to join the “Men’s Project.” The project is apparently a 6 week program in which applicants will take a step-by-step analysis of how masculinity affects society.

“A key element of the program is intersectionality. There isn’t just one masculinity, there are many,” says Sam Johnson, a violence prevention specialist at University Health Services (UHS), one of the campus offices organizing the program. She explained that other components of one’s identity—including religion, sexual orientation, and race—all contribute to individual perceptions and experiences of masculinity.

The Blaze, in speaking about this event, explains that, “these perceptions are to focus around how masculinity can become – to use a popular social justice term – toxic, and encourage violence and sexism.”

Johnson said one goal for the Men’s Project is to ultimately prevent future violence by teaching participants to recognize warning signs of unhealthy interactions. The program will also give insights to facilitators and staff about perceptions of masculinity and how they impact the student experience, including gender-based violence on campus, alcohol, vulnerability, media sexuality, and relationships.

In her defense from outside criticism that the program’s sole purpose is to attack perceived “masculinity,” UW-Madison director of news and media relations Meredith McGlone says, “We know that men are underrepresented on campus when it comes to campus leadership roles and getting needed medical and mental health services. They’re also overrepresented in acts of violence and use of drugs and alcohol. With this program, we want to find out why this is and how we can change that culture campus-wide to encourage healthier expressions of masculinities.”

In an email to College Fix, McGlone explained her thoughts in more depth saying, “Recent research suggests college campuses have not effectively addressed [male students’] needs. Research also indicates that expectations around masculinity impact the way in which men experience college.”

She continued, “This can lead to self-destructive behaviors that impair their ability to complete their education. Research indicates that young men are less likely to enroll in and graduate from college, less likely to seek help from campus resources and more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as abusing drugs and alcohol. Research also indicates that programs such as the Men’s Project can counter these negative trends and support college men in their educational experience.”

The Blaze countered McGlone’s already soft argument in favor of this course by explaining that men may have “very little” reason to trust colleges to have their best interests at heart.

Many would argue that masculinity isn’t to blame for men tending to seek less help from universities. The truth is, men have very little reason to trust colleges to have their best interests at heart. Between programs like the above that are highly critical of their masculinity, to lack of due process for men when it comes to accusations of sexual assault — even if it wasn’t their doing — being at a University has become a risky venture for men.

As previously mentioned, UW-Madison is no stranger to social justice warrioring or political correctness. The university has and will continue to make news for things such as withholding credits for students who volunteer at Christian organizations, holding an accredited class called “The Problem of Whiteness,” and for selling racially divisive sweatshirts on campus.

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