Rethinking Masculinity
Rethinking Gender, Power, and Privilege
In a male-dominated society, men benefit from privileges like assertiveness in negotiations and fewer interruptions, yet they also face societal pressures and internal struggles, highlighting that gender equality is essential for both men and women.
Reexamining Gendered Behaviors
In this video lesson, Michael Kaufman discusses the restrictive gender norms that dictate behaviors for boys and girls, highlighting their limitations and advocating for a reevaluation of these expectations to foster more equitable parenting and professional opportunities.
A Guide for HR Professionals
In a video lesson, Michael Kaufman emphasizes that HR departments need support from all business leaders to effectively drive gender equality and change, highlighting the importance of leadership involvement, measuring workplace metrics, and fostering a supportive environment for parental leave.
A 21st-Century Framework for Preventing Sexual Harassment
Michael Kaufman suggests reinventing workplace discussions on sexual harassment by using the "red light, green light" framework, which emphasizes understanding behaviors' impacts rather than intentions, and encourages addressing yellow light behaviors that may be ambiguous.
Working Together as Allies
Men can become better allies in their organizations by understanding that women’s empowerment is not a competition, committing to gender equality, actively listening to women, and embracing the opportunity to create meaningful social change.
Boys don’t cry, and girls play with dolls. Gendered expectations like these don’t vanish with youth but evolve and follow us into our professional lives. In this expert class, Kaufman shows us how to advocate for gender equality by reconsidering our expectations of others (and ourselves).
Learning Objectives
- Reexamine gendered expectations.
- Consider how gender norms grant power and privilege.
- Exercise greater mindfulness of workplace behavior.
- Support HR and its equality initiatives.
- Identify opportunities for allyship.