On April 25, GCC student Corbin Wood and GCC professor Francien Rohrbacher hosted a discussion of bell hooks’ book “The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love” via Zoom. The book largely discusses the overlap between toxic masculinity, gender expectations, and the idea of male aggression. Wood expressed the sentiment that after reading it, he was compelled to share it due to the current social climate. “[…] I’ve recently noticed a lot of sexist, racist social media personalities online – I’ve heard people coin it as the manosphere,” he said. “The more we read [the book]… we kind of got the idea of wanting to start this discussion, or a book club, just to talk about it with other people.”

Twenty-two people joined the Zoom meeting to discuss the book, of which the first few chapters had been emailed to interested parties before the discussion. Slides were presented with quotes from the book, alongside questions of what they could mean and invitations to elaborate further on the ideas inside it. The discussion veered toward the idea of culturally-ingrained male aggression and overcoming it through empathy and deliberate action. 

“If anyone grows up being an athlete, rage is encouraged,” said one student. “You have to hate your opponent … and if you don’t, what’s wrong with you? You’re not man enough. So that connection between rage and manhood is really, really pushed.” Most guests, when asked, said they didn’t feel men were allowed to be emotionally vulnerable but wished that they could.

Wood said helping men be emotionally open was one of his goals in beginning the discussion. “I don’t know how many programs there are to encourage young men to seek help if need be, and kind of wanted to start a support group.” The session was recorded, and elements of it will be incorporated into a presentation on mentoring men of color. 

The book itself is available for reading at the GCC library.

Morgan Rodberg can be reached at [email protected].