In the last couple months, I have had people ask me if Chapter Be is just for women. My quick response is, “No!” I have always tried to find a wide range of people, who come from diverse backgrounds and with diverse stories. I am not sure if I have always done a good job at that, but it is my intention. This includes representing stories from both women and men. But the fact that it has been more challenging to find men, has made me stop and ask, why? Is it just that I have not come across them/been connected with them or are less men willing to take a non-traditional path?
I am sure it could be a combination of both, but is has me thinking…are men encouraged to think about concepts around “being” and “authentic self” as much as women? Are they as willing to openly talk about these subjects? Are women and girls more nurtured to tap into the emotional side of what they “do” then men are? I think that while women face a whole slew of pressures, one very acute pressure that men face is the idea of being a “provider” and that for them success is very much connected to what they do and how much money they make.
I think that the messaging that we send to boys – and therefore men – is so damaging. The social constructs of what it means to “be a man” are so tied into very aggressive concepts and they very much limit boys from not only emotionally connecting to their being, but then connecting to a true and honest path. Of course this is not true for all men, but I think it is vital that there is a conversation about this.
The Representation Project has started the conversation by creating the documentary The Mask You Live In. The film “follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.” Chapter Be is all about how we create a path in order to stay true to ourselves – no matter your gender. I think it is extremely important that we encourage everyone to be their authentic self and to learn tools for how they can connect to their inner being without fearing the pressures of those around them.
What do you think – are there less men exploring Chapter Bes and if so, why?
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