Disrupting masculinity and patriarchy: stories of men transforming

The purpose of this research was to study how work with men to understand the social construction of their own identities can contribute to creating a more socially just society. In this critical qualitative study eight participants of a critical, pro feminist college group shared their experiences of masculine and patriarchal norms, what happened socially, interpersonally and emotionally when these norms were disrupted, and what meaning and transformation came out of their involvement in a group dedicated to disrupting masculinity and patriarchy. The men realized the importance of accountability for themselves and others in creating social change around masculinity, and the need to better understand their own emotions and be more vulnerable in transforming their own masculine identity. The study provides important implications for student affairs practitioners and others in establishing and facilitating men’s groups to create social change and better understand the social construction of masculinity. It provides a way to move beyond addressing individual issues such violence against women and instead fully address the negative effects of narrow gender role socialization on both men themselves and subordinate identities around them