THE MASCULINITY WORKBOOK FOR TEENS

Helps readers develop an individual understanding of masculinity through a series of prompts and simple worksheets.

Reigeluth begins with three separate letters, one to teen guys; one to parents, caregivers, and mentors; and one to therapists, counselors, and other supporters. His introduction lucidly explains “Guy Code” and its potential toxicity, lays out the structure of the book, and offers the first few activities designed to help readers understand their own views surrounding issues of masculinity. In one, there’s a list of attributes relating to physical appearance, interests, and emotional traits to be tagged as either relating to girls and women or guys. Each chapter unpacks a specific aspect of conventional thinking about masculinity then provides activities to help readers understand how the Guy Code influences them. For example, in assessing messages about sports being more important than school, related activities include identifying personal goals and tagging specific academic subjects and extracurriculars according to gender messaging. The activities are nicely presented, and, as explained in Michael G. Thompson’s foreword, such self-knowledge can empower the individual to choose his own path. But the author sometimes tends to oversimplify and overgeneralize. This is particularly true when he tries to explain masculinity through the lenses of culture and race, a sensitive topic that begs for more in-depth treatment. The appendices explore sex versus gender, the gender spectrum, and more.

A useful guide that poses important, soul-searching questions in an engaging manner.