The Stories We Tell -How Boys Become Men.

This talk looks more closely at the ways boys learn about being real men. “Boys don’t cry”, “just boys being boys”, “man up” are all familiar messages. I start this conversation with the foundational ideas about being men, becoming men and gradually move to a discussion of how men can be allies, how men can intentionally flip the script and speak up, speak out, to be allies and advocates for change. This talk shows the rigid rules for being men and boys in school as well as the possibilities that boys can learn how to be unlike the rest of the boys. This conversation brings into focus the subtle and not so subtle ways lessons of masculinity are evident in our schooling as well as offering a look at the possibilities for change from among the boys.