One college professor is convinced that there is one common force behind school shootings, violence against women and sexual violence — toxic masculinity.
Tom Keith, a philosophy and gender studies professor at Claremont Graduate University, spoke on Monday, Oct. 7, in Hyde Hall about the effects of toxic masculinity in society. The talk was organized by UNC's Parr Center for Ethics and the women's and gender studies department.
Keith spoke for about 45 minutes, pointing out various ways in which society has suffered from toxic masculinity. He touched on points including the differing portrayals of men and women in the media and the great disparity between the number of violent crimes committed by men and the number committed by women.
“In the history of school shootings in America, only once was it a girl,” Keith said.
Keith identified four main pillars of toxic masculinity: the objectification of women, homophobia, emotional stoicism and the encouragement of violence.
“We’re still trying to make a society that all of us can flourish," Keith said. "We have less incarceration, we have less violence, and that, for me, starts with the way we conceive of men and the way we raise our boys."
Keith said it is important for everyone to think about the way they talk to children, as it has strong effects on their future behavior.
“Most men did not learn about feminism from a gender studies professor, they learned about it from dad, or they learned about it from a coach,” Keith said.
Keith also said he was disappointed that a majority of men seem to have responded to the #MeToo Movement with silence or even in a hostile manner.
