The MANifest Journey:

Changing Masculine Culture

What I am Looking to Find Out

Can the idea of masculine culture be changed by starting a conversation?

Case Study:

• Founded by Tom Matlock in 2009• A glimpse of what enlightened Masculinity might look like in

the 21st century• Collects stories about defining moments in men’s lives• Letting guys be guys while also challenging what a “real

man” is supposed to be• Creating a “cultural” conversation about what defines

manhood

Research QuestionHow are organizations such as The Good Men

Project creating a “cultural” conversation that has the potential to change the way masculine culture is viewed?

Sample & What I DidExamination of Tweets from the last month

Common Topics tweeted aboutMost re-tweeted articles, followers, favorites

Twitter Lists: Who is participating in this conversation?

The Good Men Project Website/BlogWho are they using to create this conversation

Premium Member AccessAccess to invite-only monthly video chats

What about everybody else?

Findings

Hofstede’s Culture Onion

Heroes: persons, alive or dead, real or imaginary, who possess characteristics which are highly prized in a culture, and who thus serve as models for behavior.

Heroes: Greg Simms: Editor/writer, speaker: spoken at colleges and

events

Marie Roker-Jones: Founder of Raising Good Men, Senior Editor at GMP

Cameron Conaway: Former MMA Fighter, Award Winning Poet (Malaria Poems)

Dillan DiGiovanni: Health Coach and Speaker

Charlie Brondhus: American Poet and Author

Ben Martin: Stay at Home Dad, afamilyinthecity.com

Lori Ann Lothian: Huffington Post Columnist. Senior Editor at GMP, Creator of Estrogen Diaries Blog

Heroes: CtdMatthew Salesses: Written for NYT, NPR, the

Center for Asian American Media, Salon, The Rumpus and others

Mark Greene: Emmy winning animator; frequently write on men’s issues

Andrew Ference: Ice Hockey Defenseman

Michael Kamber: War Photojournalist

Premium Access ContentJoin live calls and participate in the conversation

Mark Bowness: Lifechangetherevolution.com

Steve Shewach: The Mantor

Dr. Steve Perry: Principal of Capital Prep. Magnet School, Education for CNN & MSNBC, Host of Docudrama “Save my Son”

Graham Phoenix: Men’s Life Coach (Spain)

Anthony Goulet: Author of Sacredness of Men

What Else?Website (blog)

Book31 essays

FilmProduced by Matt Gannon (Girl with a Pearl

Earring)

Foundation

Good Men Media

ConclusionsEncouraging masculine culture to have feminine culture

values

More male followers, but more female followers contributing on a cultural scale

Follows anyone willing to partake in the conversation: I was followed back

Conversation is definitely happening, could use some progress, although they have good numbers

Making an effort to reach men from other countries

Heroes are used to advance their goal.

What’s NextCulture Changes: Culture Ecology

studies the relationship between a given society and its natural environment

Would I Change Anything?Start Sooner

Limitations: Not everyone has their location listed on twitter, translations

Narrow Twitter sample: a lot to look at

Conduct Interviews (with more time)

Payment for Premium Access (Long term vs. short term)

Make clearer what I was looking for