Tag Archives: masculinity

Boys, A Rescue Plan: Conversation w Michael Gurian

February 20, 2025GuestsBoys a Rescue Plan, male development, masculinity, Michael GurianJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle Do boys need a rescue plan? The available evidence says yes. Collectively, our boys are struggling academically, socially, emotionally, and economically. Their academic, educational, and workforce involvement has decreased. Their suicide rates have risen. Ignoring these issues isn’t in our best interest. Fortunately, more and more people are talking about the challenges … Continue reading Boys, A Rescue Plan: Conversation w Michael Gurian →

Helping Boys Find A Path to Manhood

February 13, 2025GuestsA Path to Manhood, Camino Institute, emotional development, masculinity, Paul Cumbo, teen boys, travelJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle How do we help boys along the path to manhood? That’s a question Paul Cumbo, a veteran educator, has been asking for a long time. It’s one he’s well-positioned to answer too, given that he’s spent the past few decades of his life teaching, educating, and coaching teenage boys and young men. … Continue reading Helping Boys Find A Path to Manhood →

Imperfect Men Can Build Boys Too

January 30, 2025Emotional Development, Guestsfathers, Greg Hvalaty, masculinity, mentors, stereotypes, teenage boys, teensJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle Imperfect men helped Greg Hlavaty become a good guy. “I think what saved me were men who stepped in as surrogate fathers,” Greg wrote in a recent essay. Those men weren’t exactly role models: One, Greg says, “was openly racist and bragged about having lobbed bricks from overpasses in his youth.” The … Continue reading Imperfect Men Can Build Boys Too →

Rebels with a Cause: Dr. Niobe Way on Building a Relational World

January 16, 2025Emotional Development, Guestsboy culture, Hello Fresh, masculinity, niobe way, parenting, Rebels with a CauseJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle What happens when we prioritize independence over connection? According to Dr. Niobe Way, a developmental psychologist and author of Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, & Our Future, it creates a “boy culture” that isolates boys and diminishes their relational skills. Dr. Way has spent 40 years studying boys and uncovering … Continue reading Rebels with a Cause: Dr. Niobe Way on Building a Relational World →

Listen to Boys & Young Men

December 12, 2024GuestsADHD, Boys are Great, football, gender, gender stereotypes, Hello Fresh, IXL, Lance Walker, masculinity, sexism, sportsJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle How often do we really listen to boys & young men? Not nearly often enough! There’s been a lot of chatter lately about boys & young men, masculinity, and the growing gender gap in politics – and very little public input from boys & young men themselves. In this episode, Jen & Janet … Continue reading Listen to Boys & Young Men →

Raising Boys Beyond the Man Box

November 14, 2024Best Of, Guestsman box, masculinity, parenting, Ted Bunch. A Call to MenJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle Do you know what the “man box” is? Your boys do, whether they know the term or not. The “man box” is the set of expectations, perceptions, and behaviors that are considered “manly” in our society. In this episode, Jen, Janet, and Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer of A Call to Men, explore … Continue reading Raising Boys Beyond the Man Box →

Andrew Reiner: What Boys Need

October 24, 2024GuestsAndrew Reiner, Avoila, education, emotional development, Hello Fresh, IXL, manosphere, masculinity, media literacy, parentingJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle Boys need support, not disdain In June 2024, Andrew Reiner, author of Better Boys, Better Men: The New Masculinity That Creates Greater Courage and Emotional Resiliency, published an article entitled “Our culture’s trashing of boys & men is having toxic consequences.” In this episode, he and Jen discuss what boys need & … Continue reading Andrew Reiner: What Boys Need →

“Be A Man” Project Helps Us Understand Teen Boys

September 12, 2024GuestsArmoire, Artifact Uprising, Avoila, Be A Man, Erika Janes, Lumen, masculinity, SheKnows, teen boysJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle SheKnows’ “Be a Man” project is an “exploration of what it means to be a man today,” says Erika Janes, a “boy mom” and SheKnows editor-in-chief. Importantly, the project includes teen boys and gives them an opportunity to share their thoughts about manhood and masculinity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the boys’ responses reflect our … Continue reading “Be A Man” Project Helps Us Understand Teen Boys →

Back to School w a 5th Grade Teacher

August 29, 2024Guests, School LifeAvoila, back to school, ByHeart, education, masculinity, Rob Vaughn, school, social emotional learning, teachersJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle It’s back-to-school time! What does this time of year look like for you & your family? Does your son dread back-to-school? Do you? Or, do you welcome that start of a new school year? Rob Vaughn, a 5th grade teacher, is one of the (too) few male elementary school teachers in the … Continue reading Back to School w a 5th Grade Teacher →

Dr. Niobe Way on Reimagining Boys

August 15, 2024GuestsArmoire, By Heart, Deep Secrets, friendship, Lumen, masculinity, mental health, niobe way, Rebels with a CauseJennifer L.W. Fink

Powered by RedCircle Boys know that deep friendships are critical to mental health, says Dr. Niobe Way, a developmental psychologists who’s been studying boys for 40 years. But as boys move through their teenage years, many of them — as many as 70-80% — find it difficult to connect with other boys. Why? “Boy culture,” … Continue reading Dr. Niobe Way on Reimagining Boys →