Gender stereotypes, norms, and expectations impact us at all stages of life, beginning as early as infancy.

Boys are taught not to express their emotions, to be tough, financially successful, and self-sufficient, while girls are taught to be obedient, caring, and quiet. For gender-diverse and transgender children, a lack of acceptance and pressure to conform to either side of the gender binary makes the risk of harm even greater as evidenced by the mounting discourse around trans youth across Canada.

While social expectations of gender are changing, progress in this domain has historically been lopsided. Women have expanded the definition of womanhood and embraced a broader spectrum of human experience, while men continue to be confined.

Studies continue to show that adults more readily accept the fact that girls may engage in activities and develop skills generally considered to be masculine (think ‘tomboy’). In contrast, boys are often discouraged from taking an interest in activities that are said to be ‘for girls.’

Limiting boys to narrow definitions of masculinity can result in various challenges later in life, such as relationship struggles, mental health issues, and a higher likelihood of engaging in violence. It also affects their views and treatment of women, gender-diverse individuals, and queer people, feeding homophobic and transphobic attitudes.

Educators and leaders in the K-12 sector are uniquely positioned to change this.

By fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments where boys are empowered to explore their authentic selves and think critically about the messages they receive about boyhood from the world, we can create better outcomes for everyone.

But how can we best approach conversations about gender with boys in K-12 spaces? What biases might we need to confront in ourselves as educators in order to best support our students?

Join our host, speaker and writer on healthy masculinities, Jeff Perera, on Wednesday March 20th, 2024, at 9am PST, as we learn from a panel of experts experienced in advancing gender justice through engaging students, educators, and staff in Canada’s K-12 education sector.

Register FREE via Zoom