You Throw Like a Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity

Former Syracuse University quarterback and NFL veteran Don McPherson examines how narrow definitions of masculinity adversely affect women and create "blind spots" that hinder the healthy development of men. Dissecting the strict set of beliefs and behaviors that underpin our understanding of masculinity, he contends that we don't raise boys to be men, we raise them not to be women, and argues that viewing violence against women as a "women's issue" not only ignores men's culpability but also conflates the toxicity of men's violence with being male. Using examples from his own life, including his storied football career, McPherson leads us beyond the blind spots of traditional masculinity and toward solutions that engage men in dialogue.