Workforce Development

Ensuring stable, quality jobs for Men and Boys In The 21st Century

One of the most important challenges facing modern society is ensuring stable, quality jobs for the future. Changes in the modern economy have had a particularly profound and negative impact on working class men, who have yet to adjust to the switch from manufacturing to an increasingly service and technologically-based economy. The persistent gender gap in wages between men and women and the proverbial “glass ceiling” highlight the need for men to re-tool their attitudes and reject sexism in the workplace. As we make the way for future generations of young men and women, we need to explore more environmentally and socially sustainable economic systems. The Center For Men and Boys supports comprehensive economic and labor policies that support both men and women.

Goals

  • Increase management tools and strategies that promote better work environment
  • Work towards a more Green Economy
  • Support initiatives to provide “flex-time” and parental leave
  • Enforce health and safety standards to reduce the amount of injuries on the job
  • Eliminate barriers that isolate men of color from certain trades and unions
  • Restructure business organizations to rid them of discriminatory practices
  • Offer trainings on how to reduce sexism and create better work environments for men and women

Education

No Child Left Behind

At CMB we believe in the principle of “No Child Left Behind,” but we see far too many males being left behind in today’s educational system. Far too many boys get low grades, are suspended or expelled, and don’t graduate.  In addition, far too many males are diagnosed with a learning disability and assigned to special education.  While we acknowledge the diversity of opinion on the question of whether males are doing better or worse in education compared to girls, we know that males can and must do better. As a result, CMB supports comprehensive educational strategies aimed at reducing the “gender gap” within the “achievement gap” and  instilling values of lifelong learning.

Goals:

  • Eliminate the gap in reading scores for boys
  • Eliminate suspension and expulsion rates
  • Eliminate the high rate of boys—especially boys of color—assigned to special education
  • Increase the integration of traditional liberal arts education with vocational training
  • More research on single sex schools
  • More teachers training on gender competencies in classroom and curriculum
  • Initiate Gender Task Forces within PTA's and PTO's to monitor the condition of boys in their schools

What we think, we become

Mental Health & Wellness

Addressing the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of men and boys

More than 16 million men in the United States have a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, only 38% of males with any mental illness (AMI) receive mental health treatment. More discouraging is the fact that less than 66% of men with severe mental illness (SMI) receive treatment. These statistics shed light on only part of the story, failing to address the profound pain and suffering that often goes unaddressed for men and boys who suffer from a mental illness.

Men’s Issues

Community of Practice Around Men’s Issues

One of the major efforts of CMB is to build a community of practice around men’s issues.  We are committed to growing the body of knowledge that gives society more insight and perspective into the lives of men and boys.  We believe that the social sciences can inform  practice wisdom, where parents, professionals, and people who work with males can develop deeper knowledge and skills that allow them to be more effective working with men and boys.  Therefore, at RMP will offer seminars and training institutes to encourage professionals to do state of the art research and analysis on issues that impact men and boys.  We hope to change the very nature of the way men and boys are conceptualized toward a more integrative approach to gender.

Goals:

  • More men's studies courses taught at colleges and universities
  • More integrated Gender Studies programs on colleges and universities
  • Expanded definition of gender
  • More research and funding of men's issues
  • Better increased understanding of the intersections of male issues

Research, Evaluation & Training

Research

Our reports provide “honest, meticulous, and morally alert” research on the status of men and boys that is essential to informing policy decisions and addressing the changing nature of society.

Evaluation

We support evidence-based practice and program evaluation to identify best practices for working with men and boys.

Trainings

We help professionals develop competencies for working with men and boys by becoming aware of their own gender-role socialization process, evaluating the social factors influencing the lives of men and boys, and acquiring new skills to bring about change.