Between 2000-2010, we've seen the emergence of so many tools available to men to ask questions about their identity and talk about masculinity.

Social networking such as facebook allows men of so many backgrounds to come together, keep up with one another, write, and form communities, imagined and real.

Online forums such as mascmag.com and the many links listed on the side bar of the mascmag webpage(look to the right >)  are there to give people a chance to connect with each other and share their experience of gender.

More and more colleges and universities are offering courses on critical masculinity studies through Women's Studies or Gender Studies programs.

The exploding popularity of documentary film making gives men a chance to tell their stories, and examine masculinity through an empowering lens.  These films can now be shared online and through "iphone apps" such as the NFB.

Performance art, burlesque, and music

are being used more and more to showcase varied images and portrayals of masculinity.

At the start of the new decade, its a good time to imagine where we would like to be when 2020 arrives.  I am asking myself this question:   "How will we use the tools available to us to continue asking important questions about masculinity?"

In the next decade, I would like to see more questions asked about:

♥ the language we allow men to use when they talk about sex

♥ our treatment of creative men vs. our treatment of non-creative men

♥ safe spaces for men at colleges and universities

♥ maturity and masculinity

In the next decade, I would like to see more exploration of the following tools to ask questions about masculinity:

♥ vaudeville

♥ comics, graphic novels

♥ popular and documentary film

♥ collaboration among critical thinking men

♥ politicians

♥ women's studies programs or gender resource centers

What tools do you have access to?

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Robert is a teacher, writer, and aspiring chef-at-home living and working in downtown Toronto.