Men donSA国际影视传媒檛 often have the space to talk about their experiences with masculinity and gender, something a group of community members want to change.
Open only to those who identify as male, an upcoming screening of documentary The Mask You Live In and a conversation about what it is to be a man in the Northwest Territories will be held May 10 at Northern United Place.
SA国际影视传媒淢en are more receptive and more able to participate fully in a conversation when itSA国际影视传媒檚 just men in the room,SA国际影视传媒� said Derek Lindman, who facilitates workshops in schools for Strength Masculinites and Sexual Health (SMASH). It is a conversation he said needs to happen in the wider community.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in this situation where men are in the most need to talk about this because theySA国际影视传媒檙e told that they canSA国际影视传媒檛 as men talk about things, but theySA国际影视传媒檙e the least likely to talk about it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Social worker Anneka Westergreen hears many conversations about masculinity, yet very few of them involve the subjects of these debates SA国际影视传媒� namely, men. Wanting to broaden the conversation about gender in the community, she reached out to Lindman, and together with the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, they came up with the idea for a film screening.
The film and conversation will delve into the messages men get about their identity and how these messages play into their lives and relationships. If discussing these topics is uncomfortable for anyone, there is no pressure to speak up.
Westergreen says in her work, she sees how ideas of what a man should be SA国际影视传媒� such as showing strength instead of sharing emotions - have real impacts on men's mental health and relationships. As the Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of domestic violence in Canada, Laura Boileau at the Tree of Peace said talking about these topics can help to open up pathways to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Westergreen will include the impact of colonization and residential schools on indigenous men into the discussion, but Lindman stressed the issue that affects all men.
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Organizers want to see men from all walks of life participate, including those who would like to be allies for positive masculinity.
"We were hoping to generate more positive role models for men behaving peacefully, behaving respectfully and being able to communicate well in order to resolve conflict and that's certainly much needed in Yellowknife and in the territory," said Boileau.
Talking about Masculinity is scheduled for May 10 at 7 p.m. at Northern United Place. Men 14 and over are welcome to attend.
