The Topics
About this Portfolio
Goal: Masculinity is a hard topic to begin talking about. Where do you start? My goal is to make things easier.
For each topic I will:
Provide starter questions to initiate a discussion in an inclusive manner and without putting anyone on the defensive. The goal is simply to learn, gain new perspectives, and get the conversation going.
Provide interviews to serve as examples of how these conversations can go, show multiple perspectives, and how constructive it can be to have them.
Provide basic information to serve as a succinct way to start these talks on an even playing field.
Provide links to examples of this topic in social media as well as additional information.
Scope: To narrow this project I will be focusing on masculinities, specifically in euro-centric communities such as the United States and Ireland.
What will you gain by being on this site?
A better understanding of the issues facing men today.
Ability to carry out a conversation on the Manosphere, Fatherhood, and Men's Health and well-being.
Knowledge about how to start these conversations and acquire empathy.
Why Should You Talk About Masculinities?
"Gender-aware studies of men and masculinities are in fact necessary for an intersectional analysis of gender relations, and a better understanding of masculinity is necessary to reduce men's perpetration of violence and increase support for gender justice."
- Graduate Journal of Social Sciences, Tal Peretz
What Will You Get Out of This Website?
A Basic starter pack of information on the study of masculinities.
Tools to start having conversations about masculinities.
Questions to take a deeper dive into topics.
Sample conversation to draw from.
Why Did I Make This Website?
About Me: My name is Megan Suehring I am a fourth year at the University of Washington in Seattle. I am currently doing an exchange trimester at University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. This trimester I took a class titled Masculinities taught by Dr. Ernesto de Aguilera Vasquez, which was the catalyst for making this website.
Why the website? This website serves as my final project, but it's more than that. I have always loved learning and exploring new topics, but I have hated how hard it is to talk about politically charged ideas. I also find certain topics alienate people immediately, like toxic masculinity. Ever tried talking with a guy about toxic masculinity? It immediately puts them on the defensive. My goal for making this site was to figure out how to hold these conversations about these incredibly interesting topics without alienation or putting anyone on the defensive. Because these are conversations I want to have, I want to gain new perspectives. I hope this website can help you do this too.
This website was published in December 2022.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at megan@suehring.com.