Progressive Masculinity

Join us on Wednesday 10 July at 4.00pm – 5.00pm for the LEARN LIVE webinar ‘Progressive Masculinity’

What are the aims of this webinar?

In our session we will hear about the work and vision of Progressive Masculinity. As their website states, “At Progressive Masculinity we challenge these regressive models of masculinity without presenting an alternative which would be dismissed by young men as ‘weak’. This is achieved by creating safe, non-judgemental spaces, listening to and valuing the voice of boys in order to construct models of masculinity which are consistent with their values, with the kind of men, friends, partners and fathers they wish to be in the future. We support them to become the kind of men this world badly needs”.

What will you take from this session?

You will hear about strategies to work with the boys in your setting to improve their knowledge and confidence in their masculinity. Mike Nicholson, Director, will give background to the organisation. He will then explain the essence of their work and how you can begin to build positivity around boys masculinity.

Who is the presenter?

Mike Nicholson has over seventeen years experience in education as an English teacher and middle leader. Having worked in schools from every Ofsted category he has a wide range of experience across the educational spectrum and early in his career began to develop a reputation for his ability to have an impact on boys and young men deemed ‘difficult’ and ‘challenging’. Recognition of his work with this group led to a nomination for a Pearson National Teaching Award. In 2009 Mike took a sabbatical year to manage an education program called The English Language Improvement Centre in a rural area of Ethiopia, Africa. Whilst the conditions during this time were very challenging it provided Mike with a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience and a chance to change lives by developing the literacy skills of many who had previously been unable or denied the chance to learn.

Over the years Mike became increasingly interested in how our male pupils’ understanding of masculinity played such a pivotal role in their attitudes and behaviours. Researching, developing and piloting an early version of the Progressive Masculinity Program allowed him to see how so many of our young men put on a performance and a mask of what they think it means to be ‘a man’ gleaned from films, games, social media etc. The refined version of the Progressive Masculinity Program is Mike’s effort to give our young men the freedom and confidence to remove this mask and, through open dialogue and practical activities, reconstruct a healthier and more open-minded understanding of what it can mean to be ‘a man’.

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