Narratives of gender and identity of young men : education, family and community in a northern BC single industry town
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Authors
Euverman, Susan
Issue Date
2019-03-28
Type
Language
Subject
Education , Identity , Masculinities , Teachers
Alternative Title
Abstract
This research is aimed at understanding how masculinities are developed in five males who grew up in a small northern BC community. Using narratives and autoethnography, this research shows that the community, family and education are all contributing factors in developing masculinities. An unexpected factor that was discovered during the interviews was the importance of hockey for four out of the five participants. The way in which masculinities are formed and acted out is very complex, with no one factor being more important than the other. The culture in which these males grew up had a major influence on their development, the way they were raised and the education they received. At times, it seemed like the family was most influential in forming gender identities, as seen through the stories of each participant and myself. The family existed within the community which has a strong connection to traditional gender roles, which can then influence how males grow up, and to what they are exposed. In order for there to be a better understanding of how educators contribute to the forming of masculinities, there needs to be education in teaching programs devoted to this understanding. I have developed a university course as a way of contributing to the knowledge of masculinity development.