Filmmaker, author and activist Dr. Jackson Katz will deliver a multimedia presentation today in the EMU Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. on male culture and sexual violence.
Jackson is most famous for his documentary “Tough Guise,” in which he deconstructs pop culture images of masculinity and critiques male stereotypes.
“Boys and young men learn early on that being a so-called ‘real man’ means you have to take on the ‘tough guise’ — in other words, you have to show the world only certain parts of yourself that the dominant culture has defined as manly,” Katz said in his film.
Associate professor of journalism and communication Carl Bybee said that men committed 90 percent of violent physical assault and more than 95 percent of dating violence, but that popular culture pressured them to act aggressive to fit in. 
“Culture has created a trap for men in terms of what constitutes manhood and maleness,” Bybee said. “There are a lot of young men out there who don’t want to be the kind of man that popular culture perpetuates, but they are surrounded by stereotypes. One of the great things about Jackson Katz is that he brings the male stereotyping machine into visibility and provides a means for guys to realize that there are positive, strong alternatives that they can strive for. Often times, these alternatives open up the possibilities for deeper, more caring relationships between men and women.”
Director of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Abigail Leeder is adamant about educating students on the how to prevent sexual assault.
“I feel that it is a very important issue that is not talked about often, even though it is pervasive in college environments,” Leeder said. “We need to create a safe space where people can take care of one another. We try to focus on stopping violence by eradicating conditions under which abuse can occur.”
Leeder said that when it came to violence, no one should be left out of the discussion.  
University senior Matt Frick said he understood the pressure young men face today. 
“There’s still an ideal gender stereotype that you can’t cry and you have to be tough,” he said. “Women have an idealized body type, but there’s the same pressure for men. The idea of feminism feels like man-bashing until you realize it’s about equality. For every girl that wants to be tough, there’s a guy that wants to be sensitive.”