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Discussion & Study Guide

Man Oh Man: Growing Up Male In America

Table Of Contents

Review Questions

Questions For Further Discussion

Activities

Vocabulary

World Wide Web Resources

Review Questions

Following the film, review it with the following questions:

• Name some of the societal pressures of being an American Man.
• Name some of the differences between men and women regarding health and life expectancy.
• What is the woman's perspective in the movie and what is her conclusion?
• How would Jeff, the musician, define masculinity?

Questions For Further Discussion

• What is a successful man?
• What are the possible disadvantages and trade-offs of being a financially successful man?
• "Men can talk about carburetors. Men can talk about sports. But that's not really communicating, it's exchanging information." Do you agree with this? Give examples from your own experience to support your answer.
• How do boys/men show their vulnerabilities?
• What is the connection between women's expectations and male pressures?
• How do you personally define "masculinity"?
• On TV, what are the consequences for a man when he fails or shows weakness? What are the consequences when he wins?
• How do male stereotypes create female stereotypes?

Activities

• Observe and note down male stereotypes found in movies and on TV. Suggest ways in which the characters could be changed so as to not be stereotypes.
• List games, songs and books from your childhood that helped perpetuate male stereotypes.
• Ask an older adult male, or your father, or peers what is the hardest part of being a male.
• Observe what you and your friends talk about -- does the topic change depending on the gender of the friend?
• Keep a journal of incidents and conversations which indicate whether they are "appropriate" or "inappropriate" behavior for your gender.

Vocabulary

sexism            homosexuality
   
archetypes        vulnerability
   
homophobia        stereotypes  
   
masculinity
   
androgyny
   
   

World Wide Web Resources

Watermark Media Website

alt.support.single-parents

alt.parenting.solutions

Men's Issues Page

Father's Resource Center

FAST: Fight Against Sexist Tyranny

Men's Health Network

National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS)

New Warrior Training