Man Up: Understanding Masculinity
with Rachel Giese and Daemon Fairless
Hosted by CBC’s Adrian Harewood
In Person Non-Fict
Daemon Fairless has written an urgent, compelling account of what makes many men tick. Anyone who cares about men—a son, brother, father or romantic partner—should read this book.
While our culture continues to challenge brittle and outdated notions of femininity, many would argue that our attitude towards masculinity has been slower to evolve. Join us for an engaging conversation on how we might confront the darker impulses of male behaviour and also encourage boys to grow into confident men who are able to stand in solidarity with each other and the women in their lives.
The successes of feminism have led to greater opportunities for girls, by challenging stifling stereotypes about femininity and broadening the understanding of what it means to be female. While boys have travelled alongside this transformation, narrow definitions of masculinity and manliness haven’t faced the same degree of scrutiny. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with educators, activists, parents, psychologists, sociologists, and young men, Rachel Giese–the editor-at-large at Chatelaine and mother to a son–examines the myths of masculinity and the challenges facing boys today. Her new book Boys: What It Means to Become a Man, tells stories of boys navigating the transition into manhood and how the upheaval in cultural norms about sex, sexuality and the myths of masculinity have changed the coming of age process for today’s boys.
In his new book, Mad Blood Stirring: The Inner Lives of Violent Men, journalist Daemon Fairless tackles the horrors and compulsions of male violence from the perspective of someone who struggles with violent impulses himself. A man, no matter how civilized, is still an anima–and sometimes a dangerous one. Men are responsible for the lion's share of assault, rape, murder and warfare. Conventional wisdom chalks this up to socialization, that men are taught to be violent. And they are. But there's more to it. There remains a hidden geography to male violence–an inner ecosystem of rage, dominance, blood-lust, insecurity and bravado–yet to be mapped.
Books available for purchase at every event: Proceeds support our free children’s literacy programs.
