ALTOONA – Jackson Katz will bring his “Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity” presentation to Penn State Altoona on Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Devorris Downtown Center.
Katz is one of America’s leading anti-sexist male activists. An author, educator, filmmaker, and cultural theorist, he is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in the field of gender violence prevention education and critical media literacy.
At a time when such issues are of a national concern, Katz’s presentation is both relevant and educational for students, teachers, parents, and the community. Katz argues that the epidemic of male violence that plagues American society needs to be understood and addressed as part of a much larger cultural crisis in masculinity.
Whether he’s looking at bullying and school shootings or gay bashing, sexual assault and violence against women, Katz makes a powerful case that male violence, misogyny and homophobia are inextricably linked to how we define manhood as a culture. He goes on to say that American media have glamorized increasingly regressive and violence masculine ideals in the face of mounting social and economic threats to traditional white male heterosexual authority.
Katz’s innovative cultural approach to gender violence prevention has been adopted by the NFL, the NCAA and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The event is presented by the Health Advisory Board’s Mental Health/Suicide Prevention and Sexual Assault/Violence Prevention subcommittees along with Penn State Altoona’s Health & Wellness Center.
Funds for the event were provided by the Student Activity Fund. It is free and open to the public.