Getting the Toxic out of Masculinity Book Launch

Two years ago I started writing a book about 'Toxic Masculinity'. Now ten years into violence prevention work, I have seen men and boys engage with enthusiasm and openness to end violence against women and girls, each other, and those who identify outside of the gender binary.  I knew when I started the book that translating these experiences into something inspiring and insightful was absolutely necessary.  As Donald Trump escalates toxic masculinity to unprecedented levels, it is clear that we need clarity around the narrative.  As intimate partner violence and femicide, racism and sexual violence escalate to appalling new heights, it is more clear than ever that we urgently need change. This book presents avenues of change in a clear, gentle and inspiring way. I began searching for a publisher and literary representation last fall.  Unfortunately the publishing industry is closed right now - publishers are not even accepting queries.  And so here we are.  The books now sits at 320 pages in length.  I self published ten years ago, and I am happy to do it again.  However, I need your support.   It needs a professional editor, which is estimated to cost $3900, a nice cover at $300.  For every $25.00 donated, you will receive a signed copy of the book in the mail upon release (estimated August 1).  If you donate, please send me a personal email ([email redacted]) with your shipping address. Please see the below plot synopsis to get an idea of the content: Getting the Toxic out of the Masculinity is a cutting edge sociological non-fiction book aimed at building awareness about ways of ending gender-based violence.  Illuminating, inspiring, and bold, this non-fiction book is a game-changer for anyone interested in understanding why gender-based violence happens and how it can be transformed.  This book is for anyone who believes in the good in men and boys, and wants better for men and boys than a life of relational dysfunction and violence.  Drawing on anecdotal narratives from Kevin’s extensive public education experience as a violence prevention educator, this book ties together all of the issues underlying the global pandemic of gender-based violence. Based on a decade of facilitation experience, public speaking, and writing curricula for non-governmental organizations, Kevin brings his experience working with men and boys on healing their trauma, and growing positive and healthy masculinity.  This book is divided into two parts: the first sets the stage for the work men and boys need to do to address toxic masculinity, by addressing trauma, and the root causes of gender-based violence.  The second half, examines the ways that everyone can help end toxic masculinity and gender-based violence: ·       Growing emotional intelligence helps foster non-violent communication and gives men and boys an alternative to anger; ·       Building consent culture is the antidote to rape culture, and is imperative for helping all people to become aware of their own boundaries so that they can live healthier relational lives and help eliminate rape culture; ·       Effective by-stander intervention is critical to preventing acts of violence from occurring in the moment, and also growing deterrence; ·       Understanding and disrupting the underlying ‘bro-culture’ that drives toxic masculinity and gender-based violence is critical to growing the #MeToo movement that focuses on believing survivors The over-arching theme of this book is gender and the way it creates gender norms and expectations that lead to violence.  Delving into the role of gender in perpetuating violence against women and girls, this book completely flips Jordan Peterson’s rejection of gender identity politics on its’ head.  It’s never been more important to understand that gender identity politics are essential for gender equality.  It can help us to grow alternatives to the gender-binary, gender norms and expectations.  Kevin’s own experiences rejecting ‘toxic masculinity’ and embracing a non-binary or fluid identity, born out of facilitating an examination of gender’s role in violence, illuminates the issue, and leads to the conclusion that gender is at the root of violence and toxic masculinity.  To end gender-based violence and toxic masculinity requires a critical analysis of the systems that support it, and a shift in the way that we live, socialize, and socially learn.