\u201cThere\u2019s no real definition of what a man is.\u201d Manhood 2.0 helps young men think about gender norms and stereotypes.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhen asked what they had learned from the program, many of the young men mentioned that the program changed their understanding of gender norms. In particular, participants referenced what they learned about the \u201cMan Box.\u201d The Man Box is an interactive activity in which young men are asked to describe messages they receive about how to be a man or how to act like a man, and messages they receive about if they do not conform or behave accordingly; they also describe the difficulties and benefits of challenging rigid messages about manhood. Commenting on Man Box, one participant said, \u201cIt taught me that you shouldn\u2019t be afraid of who you are in society and that there\u2019s no real definition of what a man is.\u201d Other comments reflect how Manhood 2.0\u2014and the Man Box activity in particular\u2014developed participants\u2019 understanding of the fluidity of gender definitions. One young man said, \u201cMen can be feminine and . . . women can do the same things as men.\u201d Another said, \u201cI think it\u2019s better to float out of the box, rather than stay in what society tries to put you in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Young men also discussed ways that rigid gender roles cause difficulties for young men. One participant said, \u201cMe personally, there\u2019s . . . times that I wanted to bawl my eyes out, but when I think of the things I\u2019ve been told, like \u2018Be a man, you can\u2019t cry, be strong . . . .\u2019 Eventually that leads to emotional problems for men.\u201d Another participant noted, \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to have that discussion because no one wants to be the one to say something out of place or out of the box thing. So that fear pushes people to stay in the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants also expressed the view that discussing gender would help young men confront stereotypes about homosexuality. One commented, \u201cYou can say, like, a gay person is supposed to be like this or dress like this, but he could look like any of us and act like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more educated I am, the more I can help her.\u201d New knowledge enhances confidence and communication on birth control and consent.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhen focus group facilitators asked participants what new information they had learned from Manhood 2.0, young men in every focus group mentioned information about female birth control methods, particularly long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), including IUDs and implants. Participants stated that they had little or no knowledge of these options prior to participating in the program. Commenting about implants, one participant said, \u201cBefore this program, I didn\u2019t know that a girl could put a tool in her arm and not get pregnant . . . I thought, like, the only way was either birth control [pills] or condoms, but Manhood 2.0 opened my eyes to more.\u201d Others mentioned learning about the importance of using a hormonal birth control method or a LARC for pregnancy prevention, yet they also understood that these methods do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). One young man said, \u201cI feel like I knew about condoms, and I thought they were the best thing. But IUDs are a better way to avoid getting pregnant. It doesn\u2019t protect you from STIs, but it\u2019s effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although participants said they had some knowledge of condoms before the program, many gained a deeper understanding of appropriate condom use through Manhood 2.0. Participants in several focus groups specifically mentioned learning that they should not keep condoms in their wallets. One participant mentioned learning that condoms expire, and another said he had learned more about the efficacy of condoms for preventing pregnancy.<\/p>\n
Young men also shared this information with their partners. One participant mentioned feeling educated enough to have a conversation with his partner about birth control: \u201cI can bring [birth control] up to my partner if she wants to talk about it, so I\u2019m not clueless about it. And if she wants to talk about it, then I have knowledge about it too.\u201d While the program gave men new knowledge about birth control, facilitators also emphasized that decisions about which birth control method a woman uses are ultimately made by her. One participant acknowledged this lesson, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s her decision, but the more educated I am, at least, the more I can help her if she\u2019s feeling doubtful or not aware of certain things.\u201d This young man noted that knowledge and communication about birth control are critical to healthy relationships: \u201cIt\u2019s not going to be a healthy relationship, if you don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants also gained a more nuanced understanding of sexual consent in the Manhood 2.0 program, and some mentioned consent when asked about the most important lessons they would use in their everyday lives. They learned that consent must be an affirmative statement, and that it can be revoked at any time. One participant said, \u201cThey went in-depth about what consent really is. Consent is when the person actually says yes, but they say it\u2019s an ongoing process so \u2018yes\u2019 can turn into a \u2018no,\u2019 like, three minutes later.\u201d Participants also discussed what they learned about nonverbal aspects of consent. \u201cEven though they might be saying yes, their body might be saying something different . . . her body language has to show that she\u2019s comfortable as well,\u201d one said. Another participant showed his understanding that consent is not possible when one or both partners have been using drugs. Describing a conversation with a peer, the young man said, \u201cHe was talking about how they was going to [smoke weed] before. And I was, like, you can\u2019t do that, it\u2019s not consent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Overall, young men noted that lessons about birth control and consent increased their knowledge, engagement, and sense of confidence and skill related to pregnancy prevention and led them to share their knowledge with others. Their responses reflect the messages about birth control and consent delivered in the program and show that respondents were receptive to these lessons.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just need to come and talk.\u201d Participants highlighted the need for shared, safe spaces for young men to talk about their feelings.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFocus group participants frequently mentioned that young men have difficulty expressing their feelings; therefore, it is important to provide spaces where young men feel comfortable having open discussions with each other. One participant said, \u201cGuys are not really taught many ways to express ourselves, other than sports or physical means. I feel like a lot of mental issues are caused by people not being able to express themselves in healthy ways.\u201d Several participants noted that they feel pressured to suppress their feelings, so they lack opportunities to express emotions in a healthy way. As one said, \u201cLike, we don\u2019t know how to express ourselves, so when we do, it\u2019s so many mixed emotions, and it\u2019s all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n
With respect to the difficulty young men face when trying to express emotions, participants noted that the open discussion format of Manhood 2.0 worked for them. One participant reflected, \u201cIt was fun to get to talk about stuff . . . just like man stuff, like stuff I don\u2019t really have conversations about . . . like gender . . . . It was just nice to have a genuine discussion with a whole bunch of guys about regular stuff.\u201d Creating a safe environment for young men to talk through issues that are otherwise not discussed in their daily lives, such as gender and expressing emotions, is central to open and productive discussion. One participant said, \u201cThere wasn\u2019t any judging. There wasn\u2019t any sort of bullying. What we did\u2014we had a discussion, it was an open space for us to talk openly without judging.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants felt that they did not have other opportunities for this kind of open discussion, and they expressed a desire for support or services that could offer them these spaces. One participant said, \u201cI would like to see programs like this grow. Like in my community, there isn\u2019t a program like this where people can sit and talk about their feelings.\u201d Another young man said, \u201cI just need to come and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt right at home.\u201d Program facilitators created a sense of openness and brotherhood among participants.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe facilitators of Manhood 2.0 played a powerful role in creating a safe space that promoted openness in discussions. Because facilitators were close in age to participants and came from similar backgrounds, they were able to develop strong connections with the young men. One participant said, \u201cThey\u2019re young, so I feel like I can connect with them. They can relate to whatever we\u2019re going through.\u201d Throughout the program, facilitators incorporated their own personal stories into the lessons, which engaged participants and encouraged them to trust the facilitators. One young man said, \u201cI can tell that they went through some of the stuff we were talking about, so we can actually believe them instead of someone who has never experienced that stuff ever in their life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manhood 2.0 also fostered powerful bonds between facilitators and participants, and among the young men within each group. The facilitators\u2019 informal approach to discussions made participants feel as though the facilitators were their friends, rather than their teachers. One participant said, \u201cThey just connected to me. He called me his \u2018brother\u2019 the first time.\u201d At the same time, the environment that facilitators created allowed participants to form deeper and more meaningful bonds with one another. The fact that focus group participants were minorities, with similar life experiences, also contributed to a sense of brotherhood. One young man reflected, \u201cI like Manhood because we\u2019re all minorities and we\u2019re like brothers. We could just all connect and share our experiences.\u201d Another young man commented, \u201cSince we\u2019re minorities and we did the brotherhood talk about how everything stays in the room, I felt more safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Focus group facilitators also asked young men to identify what characteristics program staff should look for when hiring new facilitators. Participants emphasized the importance of choosing people who are open-minded, nonjudgmental, and relatable. When asked how the program could be improved, the participants did not have any concrete recommendations, and instead simply noted they would like to have more sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re just judging me on my skin color\u201d: Discrimination, stereotyping, and racism are the biggest issues black and Latino men face.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nTo understand the context of young men\u2019s lives and how their experiences may influence how they respond to the program, focus group facilitators asked participants to identify the biggest issues faced by black and Latino young men. Issues that the participants immediately identified were discrimination, stereotyping, and violence from law enforcement. One young man said, \u201cPolice. Yeah, it\u2019s self-explanatory. They\u2019re trying to kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n
In three focus groups, participants talked about being followed and harassed in public spaces, particularly in stores. In one group, a participant said, \u201cPeople get discriminated against . . . like for example, walking into a store . . . and you have someone following you the whole way around to make sure you\u2019re not stealing something. It\u2019s just because of your appearance.\u201d When the focus group facilitator followed up by asking how many of the young men present had been stereotyped, almost all the participants raised their hands. In a different focus group, another participant also mentioned being followed in stores and talked about the psychological impact of this stereotyping: \u201cIt makes me feel less human since they\u2019re just judging me on my skin color and automatically assume and jump into scenarios,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Manhood 2.0 gave participants a space to discuss experiences like these and reminded the participants that they were not alone. The conversations helped the young men realize how many others had had similar experiences with discrimination, and helped them form connections with one another.<\/p>\n
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