Male Allies hosts “Unpacking Masculinity” event


The public education program Male Allies, has partnered with Wilfrid Laurier University to offer their event Unpacking Masculinity throughout the month of March.
Male Allies is a program run by the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC).
ā[Male Allies] is about engaging men and boys in the conversation surrounding gender based violence. Engaging men as active bystanders, and having conversations around enthusiastic consent and healthy masculinity,ā William Fujarczuk, Male Allies Educatorsaid.
Unpacking Masculinity is a workshop in which there is an open conversation about gender based violence and what masculinity means in society today.
āWomen have been talking about these issues, talking about systemic violence, for generations. So, itās really impertinent for men to finally start having these conversations and understand that we have a really important role if we want to end gender based violence,ā Fujarczuk said.
āWherever people are coming from, they are welcome to attend. We just ask that they come with an open mind and be ready to engage in conversation. No matter where their knowledge is on gender, there is no prerequisite to join.”
The sessions are held in the Macdonald House lounge on campus at WLU every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The final session will be held March 20.
The workshop is held weekly in an attempt to build a recurring community with those who partake in the events.
āWeāre doing four weeks in a row so that itās more in peopleās routine. We wanted to provide a space that allowed us to build a relationship over time,ā Fujarczuk said.
āWe have a couple of staple activities that we love, that can be done in an hour or two, and those are great, and thereās some good conversations,ā Fujarczek added.
āBut, when weāre talking about unpacking masculinity, a lot of that is feeling comfortable to be vulnerable, and thatās something that you canāt just do in a one-hour session with strangers. Itās not a comfortable space for that.ā
Fujarczuk emphasized the importance of breaking down the social stereotypes built around masculinity and manhood.
āItās really about breaking free from the man box. We construct a man box and a woman box, and we push each other into these boxes of stereotypes. What happens when you go outside them? What can we do to start breaking them down?ā
The focus of Unpacking Masculinity is to have men talk about these stereotypical views of masculinity and to build a healthier, personal definition ofĀ masculinity. Fujarczuk states that it is a key part
of social violence prevention.
āThe strongest men are people who are committed to their families, people who are willing to take sacrifices. Vulnerable, caring, compassionate people,ā Fujarczuk said.
āThereās ways to do anything, take part in any activity, dress any way, that can be healthy masculinity. Itās just about being authentic as yourself and not being compliant to the man box.ā
Each weekās workshop is focused on a different theme. The next workshop, on March 13, will focus on race, intersectionality and masculinity. The final workshop, on March 20, will focus on supporting survivors of social violence. Previous themes include the understanding of enthusiastic consent and bystander prevention.
āWherever people are coming from, they are welcome to attend. We just ask that they come with an open mind and be ready to engage in conversation. No matter where their knowledge is on gender, there is no prerequisite to join. We are all at different spaces and weāre all learning from each other.ā