Becoming the Woman or Man You Want to Be • When reflecting on your gender-role identity: – Examine the experiences you have had that influence the way you view gender roles – Identify role models who have influenced your views of what it means to be a woman or a man – Be patient with yourself in challenging and changing your attitudes – Decide for yourself what kind of person you want to be, based on what you truly value The Value of Men’s Groups TOPICS OFTEN EXPLORED • What it means to trust other men • How relationships with family members affect • • • current relationships What it means to be a father Hiding from oneself and others in work environments Dealing with loss, depression, and existential anxiety, which accompany aging The Value of Men’s Groups • How one carries the weight of unexpressed emotions and desires • How one’s inner judge prevents satisfaction with life • How the fear of abandonment prevents risk-taking • Healthy ways to deal with frustration and anger • Deciding what it means to be a man Portrait of Traditional Male Roles • Some stereotypes associated with the traditional male role include a man’s – Emotional unavailability – Power and aggressiveness – Denial of fears – Protection of his inner self – Denial of “feminine” qualities – Being driven to succeed – Remoteness with other men – Lack of bodily awareness Portrait of Traditional Female Roles • Some stereotypes associated with the traditional female role include a woman’s – Warmth, expressiveness, and nurturance – Dependence – Tendency to be emotional and intuitive – Passivity and submissiveness – Tendency to be more interested in relationships than in professional accomplishments Challenging Traditional Gender-Role Expectations • Both women and men often pay a price for staying within the limited boundaries defined for them by their culture • Becoming aware of the process of genderrole socialization is the first step toward making choices about assuming expected role behavior • Men and women are challenging the societal conditioning that results in rigid role behavior Alternatives to Rigid Gender-Role Expectations • The challenge is for women and men to work together in deciding how they want to be • Androgyny is the flexible integration of both feminine and masculine traits • Androgynous people can adjust their behavior to what the situation requires in integrated and flexible ways • Gender-role transcendence involves moving beyond gender roles
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