The MENtality Project

Men’s health statistics tell us that men have a shorter average lifespan than women, seek out less health resources on average, and are reporting higher rates of substance abuse, loneliness, and suicidal ideation than ever. Furthermore, men perpetrate the overwhelming majority of violent crimes. Without discussing why men specifically see these trends or providing templates for healthy masculinity, we cannot fully address these health outcomes. Masculinity itself is not unhealthy, but it can take on both healthy and unhealthy forms, which is exactly why we prioritize healthy masculinity to pave a way forward. Healthy masculinity is valuing and respecting all people – and respecting and valuing oneself by striving by authentically.

The Man Box

The man box refers to a box full of definitions of masculinity that can box men in and limit what they can and cannot do or feel. The way we are socialized to think about gender is that there is a right way and a wrong way to be a male or a female. No one is to blame –we've all been taught this. The box can negatively impact boys and men by forcing them to always be on guard and ready to “prove” their masculinity and manhood. The box also teaches boys that one way to have power is to taunt others for being feminine. These messages lay the foundation for patriarchy and sexism, as they create associations between femininity and inferiority.

No. While the name and programming are geared towards folks who identify as masculine in any way or in part, we do not require those who engage with us to hold a particular gender identity nor do we provide education solely for male identified audiences. The purpose of this program is to educate, empower, and connect individuals with topics centered around healthy masculinity, leadership development, health, safety, and well-being.

The program is structured around a three-pillar framework of mentorship, engagement, and networking. Although the focus of the MENtality Project centers around masculinity, people who don’t identify as masculine are still needed in this conversation. We encourage everyone regardless of your identity to sign up for all of our workshops, lunch and learns, keynotes, and other activities so you can bring your insights to the table and learn more.

Contact Anthony Ciliberto (aciliberto@tulane.edu) or Chelsea Hill (chill17@tulane.edu) to get involved, or request presentations, workshops and materials.