Hundreds of activists, practitioners and academic researchers from around the world will gather in New York City this March for the International Conference on Masculinities: Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality, hosted by the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities (CSMM) at Stony Brook University. Registration is open for the conference, which will be held at the Roosevelt Hotel March 5 through March 8, preceding the meeting of the Commission of Women at the United Nations March 9 through March 20.
In presenting this conference, the CSMM has partnered with the American Men’s Studies Association and the MenEngage Alliance to create opportunities for dialogue, critique and inspiration during three days of presentations, panels, workshops and trainings. The CSMM hopes to inspire activism among men in support of gender justice by exposing them the most up-to-date research. Another goal of the conference is to increase cooperation between academic researchers who address gender issues and feminist activists, practitioners and advocates.
Guest speakers for the opening night program include Henry MacDonald, Suriname Ambassador to the UN; Phumzile Mlabo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women; Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, activist and author; Gloria Steinem, writer, lecturer, editor, feminist activist and founder of Ms. magazine; Jennifer Seibold Newsome, documentary filmmaker and women’s advocate; Carlos Andrés Gómez, award-winning poet and spoken word artist. Michael Kimmel, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University and director of the CSMM, will co-host the event with Pat Mitchell, from the Paley Center for Media and former CEO of PBS.
The conference will discuss issues such as boys’ healthy development and education, fatherhood, balancing work and family life, male friendships, promoting men’s health, and supporting women’s reproductive rights. It will engage men in policies to promote gender equality in education, employment, social life and the political arena; and it will encourage men to join the global struggle against men’s violence toward women, sexual assault, trafficking and harmful traditional practices.
More About the CSMM
In 2013 Stony Brook University received a two-year, $300,000 start-up grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to establish the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities. Led by Michael Kimmel, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University and one of the leading researchers and writers on men and masculinity in the world today, the Center focuses on the emerging and integral discipline of men and masculinities, an important component of gender studies. Kimmel is also the founder and editor of Men and Masculinities and has written numerous books on gender and masculinities, including Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, Men’s Lives, The Gendered Society and Manhood: A Cultural History.
This year’s Stars of Stony Brook Gala, in addition to raising funds for student scholarships, will highlight the CSMM and honor Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda for her support and advocacy of the Center. The Gala will be held on Wednesday, April 22, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.
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