Men, Boys and Masculinities from edX

What does it mean to be a man? This question drives more social processes around the world than you could possibly imagine. From wars and climate change to topics like education, media, and sexuality - ideas about masculinities are part of it all.

For example, why is it that some boys seem to be falling behind in school, yet many scientific fields like engineering and mathematics are still male-dominated? How does the media contribute to reinforcing or perhaps challenging what it means to be a boy or a man? Why is violence so closely associated with masculinity?

In this free online course from GRÓ GEST – Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme, four internationally acclaimed scholars in the social sciences, across gender studies, education, psychology, sociology and cultural studies, are going to examine issues and debates around men, boys and masculinities, and provide you with some answers to these questions, and many, many more.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you will understand and be able to discuss:

Basic theoretical approaches in studies on men, boys and masculinities.
Masculinities as socially constructed, produced and reproduced through social processes.
How the social construction of masculinities affect boys’ participation and learning achievement.
How socialization processes happening within educational institutions often replicate that of broader society.
Why men are falling behind in education worldwide.
How masculinity is expressed in the media and what it means for men and women.
How different media can perpetrate or challenge norms of hegemonic masculinity.
How gender bias is embedded in new technologies and Artificial Intelligence.
How to engage men and boys to make the digital space one of gender equality.
How stereotypical masculine representations may affect peacebuilding processes and intercultural dialogue.
How harmful notions of masculinities can be used to radicalize and recruit men and boys to violent extremist groups.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basic theoretical approaches in studies on men, boys and masculinities.
Masculinities as socially constructed, produced and reproduced through social processes.
How the social construction of masculinities affect boys’ participation and learning achievement.
How socialization processes happening within educational institutions often replicate that of broader society.
Why men are falling behind in education worldwide.
How masculinity is expressed in the media and what it means for men and women.

How different media can perpetrate or challenge norms of hegemonic masculinity.
How gender bias is embedded in new technologies and artificial intelligence.
How to engage men and boys to make the digital space one of gender equality.
How stereotypical masculine representations may affect peacebuilding processes and intercultural dialogue.
How harmful notions of masculinities can be used to radicalize and recruit men and boys to violent extremist groups.

Basic theoretical approaches in studies on men, boys and masculinities.
Masculinities as socially constructed, produced and reproduced through social processes.
How the social construction of masculinities affect boys’ participation and learning achievement.
How socialization processes happening within educational institutions often replicate that of broader society.
Why men are falling behind in education worldwide.
How masculinity is expressed in the media and what it means for men and women.
How different media can perpetrate or challenge norms of hegemonic masculinity.
How gender bias is embedded in new technologies and artificial intelligence.
How to engage men and boys to make the digital space one of gender equality.
How stereotypical masculine representations may affect peacebuilding processes and intercultural dialogue.
How harmful notions of masculinities can be used to radicalize and recruit men and boys to violent extremist groups.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction - Theories in Men and Masculinities

Week 2: Boys and Education

Week 3: Masculinity and Media

Week 4: Digital World and Innovation

Week 5: Peace, Politics and Environmental Justice

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Serves a specialty audience with an interest in the sociology and psychology of male gender roles

Taught by highly respected scholars in the fields of gender studies, education, psychology, sociology, and cultural studies

Provides a comprehensive exploration of the construction, socialization, and expression of masculinities in various facets of society

Requires learners to have foundational knowledge in the field of gender studies or related disciplines

Covers a range of topics, including masculinity in education, media, and peacebuilding processes

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Men, Boys and Masculinities with these activities:

Review Basic Concepts in Gender Studies

Show steps

Refreshing your understanding of basic concepts will provide a strong foundation for exploring the complex issues of masculinities and gender.

Browse courses on Gender Studies

Show steps

Review course materials from previous coursework or online resources.
Read introductory articles or books on gender studies and masculinities.
Participate in online discussions or forums to engage with others.
Attend a workshop or guest lecture on gender studies.

Develop a Social Media Campaign to Promote Gender Equality

Show steps

Creating a social media campaign requires you to apply your knowledge about masculinities and gender equality to design a creative and impactful intervention.

Browse courses on Gender Equality

Show steps

Research and identify a specific issue related to masculinities and gender equality.
Develop a clear and concise message for your campaign.
Choose appropriate social media platforms and create engaging content.
Monitor and evaluate the reach and impact of your campaign.

Contribute to Open-Source Projects on Gender Equality

Show steps

Contributing to open-source projects allows you to apply your knowledge and skills to make a tangible difference in advancing gender equality.

Browse courses on Gender Equality

Show steps

Identify open-source projects related to gender equality and social justice.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Make contributions to the codebase, documentation, or community.
Engage with the project community and provide feedback.

Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Men, Boys and Masculinities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social and Community Service Manager

As a Social and Community Service Manager, you will lead and manage programs and initiatives to make your community a better place. An education like the one you will get in this course will help you to have a better understanding of some of the communities you might serve, and how to organize to meet their needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social and Community Service Manager

Program Director

As a Program Director, you will provide leadership and oversee all aspects of a human service program. Your participation in this course will give you a better understanding of different outreach methods you could implement within your programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Director

Teacher

As a Teacher, you will help guide and shape the minds of young people. The knowledge you gain from this course will help you be better equipped to help all of your students, regardless of their gender.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Public Relations Specialist

As a Public Relations Specialist, you will help to create, generate and implement campaigns to build a positive image. This course will help you gain an understanding of the ways that the media shapes and is shaped by the public, an important part of creating effective campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Social Worker

As a Social Worker, you will help people navigate problems that are negatively impacting their lives. The lessons this course offers may give you a better understanding of the social construction of masculinity and how that might impact your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

School Psychologist

As a School Psychologist, you will have the opportunity to help students reach their full academic and emotional potential. The information you will learn in this course may help you to better serve the boys you work with.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Psychologist

Market Research Analyst

As a Market Research Analyst, you will collect and analyze data to develop insights about consumer behavior. The information you study in this course may increase the effectiveness of your research by giving you a greater understanding of the role gender plays in marketing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Human Resources Manager

As a Human Resources Manager, you will manage and oversee the human resources department of an organization. This course may help you to understand the social construction of masculinity and the role it plays in the workplace.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

College Administrator

As a College Administrator, you will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of a college or university. The information you gain from this course may help you gain a better understanding of some of the challenges men face in education.

See salaries and explore the career path for College Administrator

Sociologist

As a Sociologist, you will study the development, structure, and functioning of human society. Your study in this course will provide a solid knowledge base that will greatly assist you in your research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Political Scientist

As a Political Scientist, you will study the theory and practice of politics and government. The frameworks and ideas discussed in this course will provide you with a body of knowledge that may help shape the questions you ask in your political research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Urban Planner

As an Urban Planner, you will prepare plans and programs for the development of land and communities. The information you gain from this course will help you better understand and address the needs of men in urban spaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Counselor

As a Counselor, you will provide guidance and support to individuals, groups, and families. The understanding you gain from this course may be helpful in working with people who are struggling with issues related to masculinity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Anthropologist

As an Anthropologist, you will study the behavior, origin, and development of humans. The lessons you learn in this course will provide a solid foundation for your research in gender studies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Diversity and Inclusion Manager

As a Diversity and Inclusion Manager, you will create and implement programs to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The information you will learn in this course will help you gain a better understanding of the social construction of masculinity and how it might impact your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diversity and Inclusion Manager