Psychology of Men 270

Class Number 6644 3 credits Spring 2007 Old Main 322 8:30 AM Tuesday and Thursday Professor: Hal Bertilson

Consider, for example, these concerns: Often boys lack early childhood contact with adult males. Many men seem to have strong feelings of being disappointed with their fathers. Many men feel quite powerless and have been damaged by harsh masculine socialization. Many men have trouble dealing with strong women. Males are encouraged from an early age to suppress their feelings. Many men have problems establishing and maintaining intimacy in relationships. Most acts of violence are committed by men. Definitions of masculinity are changing.

Purpose. This is a course for both women and men about men's issues. Men are powerfully affected by the experiences of growing up male and having people respond to them as male. This course is informed by recent scholarship on men's issues and feminist scholarship. Men's issues are very compatible with women's issues.

Course Description: Introduction to the study of men's lives. A sample of topics includes boyhood, the privileges and perils of collegiate masculinities, fears about men's friendships, men and work, men and health, intimacy and power issues with women, male sexualities, male violence, and men in families. A course for both women and men about men’s issues. No prerequisites.

Textbooks: Kilmartin, C. (2007). The masculine self. 3rd Ed. Sloan Publishing. Lewis, J. (1998). Walking with the wind: A memoir of the movement. Simon & Schuster. Needed on the first day of class.

Classroom Activities and Evaluation. Classroom activities include demonstrations, exercises, lectures, videos, guest speakers, and discussion. Evaluation includes tests, writing/discussion assignments, and volunteer experience or term paper.