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‘Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood’ is first event of Seifert Series

October 4, 2016
carlos gomez
Gómez

Clarion University’s Mary L. Seifert Cultural Series will present its first event of the 2016-17 season, “The United States of Gender,” when Carlos Andrés Gómez presents “Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood” at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 in the multi-purpose room of Gemmell Student Complex.

Gómez is an award-winning poet, actor, speaker and writer. Growing up, he believed that he should always be prepared to fight, objectify women and show no emotions. His Pushcart Prize-nominated, coming-of-age memoir, "Man Up: Reimaging Modern Manhood," was inspired by his realization that these beliefs are harmful to young men. He encourages young men to stand up against society's rules of what it means to be a man and focus instead on being a good man.

Sarah Jaffe and Rebecca Traister will also speak in the MPR during Clarion University's Equity Week.

Jaffe, speaking Nov. 7, is a Nation Institute fellow and an independent journalist covering labor, economic justice, social movements, politics, gender, and pop culture. She is the author of "Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt" (Nation Books 2016). Her work has appeared in The Nation, Salon, the Week, the American Prospect, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and many other publications.

Sarah Jaffe Rebecca Traister
Jaffe Traister

Traister, speaking Nov. 10, is a senior writer at Salon.com, where she has covered women in media, politics and entertainment since 2003. She covered, with much attention and acclaim, the 2008 campaign from a feminist (and personal) perspective. She received a huge response to her pieces on Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Michelle Obama, the media's coverage of the candidates, and the role of women within the media. Her book, "Big Girls Don't Cry," is the result. It makes sense of this moment in American history, in which women broke barriers and changed the country's narrative in completely unexpected ways.

The series also includes movies relevant to the theme.

"Trapped," shown Oct. 11, follows all of the laws that have been created to regulate women's bodies and the lawyers that are fighting to keep abortion safe for women. "Chi-raq," shown Nov. 15, follows a Chicago gang leader's girlfriend as she rallies women to stop violence after her child is killed. All movies are followed by discussions.

Speakers and discussions are meant to inspire learning through thoughtful discussion.

"Regardless of topic, we hope that individuals who attend Seifert Series events will begin to think differently about a particular issue, not just because they showed up, but because they actively listened to and participated in conversations with others after the events have ended," said Shawn Hoke, director of leadership and involvement.

Seifert Series events are free and open to the public.

Last Updated 1/11/21