UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU FOR THE U.S.

ARMY,
FEMINIST WANT YOU FOR NON-PROFIT SERVICE
 RESEARCH QUESTION

What are some specific ways that toxic

masculinity determines the lack of male
involvement in the nonprofit sector, how
does this impact the effectiveness of
nonprofit work, and how could nonprofits
work against this gender stereotype?
 THESIS

American culture conditions males at a very young age into rigid

constructions of masculinity, which involves a stern insistence on
not participating in “sissy stuff.” This toxic masculinity creates
numerous social problems, including the not often discussed
problem of men’s problematic participation in non-profit work.
Male's lack of involvement in non-profit work impacts the
effectiveness of that work in numerous ways. In order to address
this problem, more communication about how men’s involvement
would benefit the work of non-profit organizations as well as how
work in the non-profit sector benefits men psychologically by
encouraging a healthier, feminist model of masculinity.
 THE RESEARCH PAPER
• Section 1
• Toxic models of masculinity are imposed
on boys at a young age in the United
States.
• A major figure in masculinity studies,
Michael Kimmel presents a
comprehensive definition of American
masculinity that is pervasive in American
culture.
• Young boys are socialized into this model
at a young age and in numerous ways.
• This socialization conditions men away
from work in care-focused professions,
including non-profit work.
• Section 2
• Male’s lack of involvement in non-profit
work impacts the effectiveness of non-
profit organizations on various levels.
• Less perspective, no masculine models,
debated value
• Section 3
• Addressing the problem must involve
strategies to recruit men into non-profit
work by highlighting how their
involvement would benefit the work of
non-profit organizations as well as how
work in the nonprofit sector benefits men
psychologically by encouraging a
healthier, feminist model of masculinity.
• Recruiting men into non-profit work is
essential, and more attention needs to be
paid to how their involvement would
benefit the work of non-profit
organizations.
• In addition to understanding the benefits
of men participating in non-profit work,
highlighting how men themselves benefit
from involvement in non-profit work would
help encourage higher rates of
participation in the field.
 THE SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT

• Blog
• On-going service project
• Consciousness-Raising
Activism
• More information is needed
online for toxic masculinity,
the research relating
masculinity and non-profit
work allowed for a larger
audience to react
 THE SERVICE LEARNING
PROJECT IMPACT

Who? What? and How much?

Audience: the online world, usually shared through social media,
predominately for persons that might not be able-bodied
Goals: to identify toxic masculinity in American culture, to show
gender issues within the non-profit sector, to encourage men to
take on a feminist model of masculinity to better their
psychological and social needs

Total views to date: 1,348

 CONCLUSIONS

What did I learn?

• Gave a specific definition of American masculinity and how rigid the
constructs look

• Showed that gender issues follow suit in all aspects of life,

including non-profit work

• Research has shown that men perform and live happier lives when
they embrace femininity along with their masculinity

• Non-profits are dominated by women, however they desire the

help from healthy representations of masculine men
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