Do men need a place to call their own?

By Lauren La Rose, Canadian Press

TORONTO — A U.S. professor specializing in studying the psychology of boys and men, masculinity and manhood will make the case for creating men’s centres on campus during an address in Toronto.

It’s not as if men don’t get together already — in bookclubs, for beers and to grab a bite after work — but a group of experts is wondering if, to improve the health of families and strength of male bonds if men don’t require their own dedicated community and campus spaces. Photo byYvonne Berg/National Post files.

The speech by Miles Groth  is slated to take place Friday evening at an event organized by the Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE) , which is working to raise funds to create the Canadian Centre for Men and Families.

Advocates on both sides of the border are seeking to fill what they view as a void at schools and within communities — programs dedicated to studying, serving and supporting male interests and needs.

“Essentially, we feel there’s no space for men specifically to discuss their issues from a men’s point of view; so we’re hoping to get something started that will hopefully be a catalyst for maybe some more male-oriented programs running,” said CAFE spokesman Adam McPhee, who also serves as food programs liaison for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.

“Male-specific programs are normally in relation to say, homelessness, but they’re not normally geared directly towards men.”

McPhee, who works with predominantly gay men, said he’s been involved in a number of discussions where domestic violence targeting men has emerged as a key issue. There’s also interest within CAFE about father’s rights and exploring options for greater shared parenting opportunities for dads following divorce, he added.

Groth, a professor of psychology at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., has established a website  seeking to highlight efforts in North America, Europe and elsewhere to create study groups for men on campus — centres for “male-positive discussions of boyhood and what it means to be a young man in the 21st century.”

His speech is slated to examine a number of issues affecting men who have reached college age or are bound for post-secondary study, focusing on the declining rate of enrolment and completion of bachelor’s degrees among young males.

Read the full article by Lauren La Rose from Canadian Press.