Methods in QUEERing and TRANSforming Masculinity and Gender

Abstract

Fostering community and obtaining basic needs are integral to student development and progression in higher education. When these basic necessities are paired with initiatives that question the traditional notions around masculinity, there may be increased persistence and belonging for folk with masculine identities. In pursuing these pathways to success, the authors explore methods of QUEERing and TRANSforming masculinities and how inclusive spaces can encourage positive identity development and belonging. Through challenging the socialization, harmful norms, and white supremacy surrounding masculinity, the described methods seek to center decolonial ideologies that humans experience and express gender and sexuality on a spectrum, not a binary. By treating masculinity as a practice versus a static expression, the proposed curriculum and programming are discussed through application to Men of Color programs and initiatives. In addition, the authors will discuss the implications of integrating developmental approaches that engage the intersections of gender, race, and sexual orientation for people seeking to reevaluate their relationships to masculinity.