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Have you ever wondered why men are more violent than women, or why men engage in more criminal activity than women? In this class, the focus is on masculinity and the effects it has on men and crime. We will look at why men engage in crime at a much higher rate than women as well as the differences of crime between men and women. We will discuss violence in men and how masculinity, toxic or not, plays a significant role in it. The societal stereotypes of gender will be highlighted and how these stereotypes play a pivotal role in the ways boys and men are expected to act. Another focus will be on the ways boys and girls are raised differently and how the expectations of young boys can lead to a crime-filled life. The way sports affects males and the violent lifestyles they can produce will also be touched upon.

• American Psychological Association. (2018). Harmful masculinity and violence. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2018/09/harmful-masculinity 
• Augelli, C., & Kuennen, T. L. (2018). Domestic violence and men's professional sports: Advancing the ball. University of Denver Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, 21, 27-88.
• Boland, P. (1994, November 30). Gender stereotypes: The links to violence. equity in Education Series. ERIC. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED387771
• Diviák, T., Coutinho, J. A., & Stivala, A. D. (2020). A man's world? Comparing the structural positions of men and women in an organized criminal network. Crime, Law and Social Change 74, 547- 569.
• Haegerich, T. M., & Hall, J. E. (2011). Violence and men’s health: Understanding the etiological underpinnings of men’s experiences with interpersonal violence. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 5(5), 440–453.
• Hayslett-Mccall, K. L., & Bernard, T. J. (2002). Attachment, masculinity, and self-control: A theory of male crime rates. Theoretical Criminology, 6(1), 5–33.
• Messerschmidt, J. (2004). Men, masculinities, and crime. In Kimmel, M. S., Hearn, J. & Connell, R. Eds.), Handbook of Studies on Men & Masculinities (pp. 196-212). Sage Publications.

1. How is masculinity defined and at what point does it become a toxic trait?
2. How has society influenced the way boys and men are expected to act?
3. How can society’s expectations of men lead to violent and criminal behavior?
4. In what aspects have the ways boys are raised contributed to toxic masculinity compared to the way girls are raised?
5. In what ways are women affected by masculinity? Discuss both violent and nonviolent effects.
6. How does masculinity lead to increased violent crimes where a woman is a victim, such as rape or sexual assault?
7. How do contact sports like football contribute to toxic masculinity and violent behavior in boys and men?
8. How can men begin to challenge these “man-box” expectations that are set by society?