The Tough Standard: The Hard Truths About Masculinity and Violence

Men are commonly expected to act "masculine" (e.g., self-sufficient, stoic, strong, dependable, brave, tough, and hard-working) while avoiding stereotypically "feminine" traits (e.g., emotional expressivity, empathy, and nurturance). Few, however, realize that these qualities--when taken to the extreme--can cause emotional constriction, substance abuse, depression, aggression, and violence in many men. Further, even though most men are not violent, decades of research has shown that masculinity is distinctly related to sexual and gun violence and men's poorer health. Considering how girls and women have benefitted from decades of conversations on navigation of their gender in a changing world, similar processes are urgently needed for boys and men. The Tough Standard connects the dots between masculinity and the present moment in American culture (defined by high-profile movements such as Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter), synthesizes over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities, and proposes solutions to corresponding social problems.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Masculinity and the Present Cultural Moment Chapter 2. Theories of Gender and How Masculinity is Measured Chapter 3. Consequences of Socializing Boys and Requiring Men to Conform to Traditional Masculine Norms Chapter 4. Summaries of Research on the Outcomes of Endorsing or Conforming to Traditional Masculine Norms or Experiencing Gender Role Conflict Chapter 5. The Role of Masculinity in Gun and Other Physical Violence Chapter 6. Masculinity and Sexual Violence Chapter 7. Masculinity and Men's Physical and Mental Health and Trauma Chapter 8. Many Masculinities: The Intersectional Perspective Chapter 9. Paths to Freedom Coda

About the Author :
Ronald F. Levant, EdD, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The University of Akron; Past President of the American Psychological Association (APA) and APA Division 51; and two-term Editor of APA Division 51's quarterly journal, Psychology of Men & Masculinities. He has developed and evaluated a number of measures designed to assess a variety of gender constructs. Dr. Levant's signature contribution has been in establishing the empirical foundation for the "Normative Male Alexithymia" hypothesis. In addition, he developed Alexithymia Reduction Treatment (ART), a brief psychoeducational intervention designed to remediate normative male alexithymia in order to prepare men to engage more fully in psychotherapy. Shana Pryor, MA, is a doctoral student of Counseling Psychology at The University of Akron. She has spent the majority of her career focusing on issues surrounding men, masculinity, and sexual trauma.

Review :
"Overall, this work, more than a book about men and violence, is also a thorough examination of the theory and measurement of masculinities and the byproducts of the negative side of traditional gender roles, not only on those whom some men harm, but on men themselves." -- Christopher Kilmartin, APA - Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity "The Tough Standard provides an important baseline for illuminating how men's perpetration of violence is influenced by masculine norms and offers new ways of conceptualizing masculinities to be more inclusive and progressive." -- Psychology of Women Quarterly "The compassion the authors feel for men can be felt throughout every chapter, with sensitivity to cultural identities, positive aspects of masculinity, and the difficulty men may feel when incarcerated by their emotions." -- Psychotherapy Bulletin "'The Tough Standard' holds out hope for a healthier conception of masculinity in the future...In the meantime, there's also education, maturity and wisdom. Even without a clear consensus, men may still find their way to a better masculinity." -- DON SIMPSON, Pittsburgh Post Gazette "What Levant and Pryor do in The Tough Standard is take forty years of research and experience and connect all the dots between masculinity and our present moment in time." -- Garrett Carlson, Dudefluencer "The Tough Standard is a quick read at only 153 pages of text, and it is impressive how the authors describe over thirty years of research in such a succinct way." -- David J. Wimer, Journal of Constructivist Psychology "Rather than tearing down masculinity, [Levant and Pryor] are offering a model that expands it into areas historically proscribed for men, allowing men to express themselves as fully human and thus access useful resources with which to manage their lives ... this work, more than a book about men and violence, is also a thorough examination of the theory and measurement of masculinities and the byproducts of the negative side of traditional gender roles, not only on those whom some men harm, but on men themselves." -- Christopher Kilmartin, APA Div. 44 "In their book, The Tough Standard, Dr. Levant and Ms. Pryor practically rip the topics from today's headlines and situate the troubling events of men's violence in a strong theoretical and empirical body of work, bringing light-instead of just heat-to the issues they address. It is a must-read as a resource to understand and engage in critical issues affecting our lives, families, and the fabric of society in the United States." -- James R. Mahalik, PhD, MA, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College "Most acts of sexual assault and gun violence are perpetrated by men, yet most men are not violent. How then do we explain the connection between men and violence without condemning men? In this book, Ron Levant and Shana Pryor skillfully address this conundrum, by shifting the focus of analysis to masculinity. This book has the perfect blend of contemporary issues (e.g., the #MeToo movement), science, theory, and practical examples. I highly commend it to anyone who seeks to understand the complex relationship between gender and violence." -- Joel Wong, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling Psychology, Indiana University "Take a deep breath and prepare to hold yourself and your community accountable. Tough Standard takes an honest and well-researched look at the implications of modern masculinity. Accessible to both researchers and non-academics alike, Tough Standard pulls back the veil to reveal how we are all impacted-and indeed complicit-in the construction of modern masculinity. As we look to heal and move forward in a positive way, Tough Standard offers invaluable insights and tools to get us there. It's a comprehensive, thoughtful, and profound piece of work. A fine compilation of a lifetime of research and beautifully linked to the political and cultural moments of our time." -- Cleo Stiller, author of Modern Manhood and Peabody Award-nominated television host "The Tough Standard is the most important book on men and masculinity available today and it couldn't come at a more opportune moment. At a time when sex and gender issues are confusing and conflicted, Dr. Levant and Ms. Pryor offer a scientifically sound exploration of what it means to be a good man in today's world. Drawing on forty five years experience as a leader in the field of men and masculinities, Dr. Levant gives us a book that will change lives for the better. Unlike many evidence-based experts he shares his own personal journey as a husband, father, and a man. I highly recommend this book for all those who want to understand why men are the way they are and how we can expand our understanding of masculinity to become our best selves." -- Jed Diamond, Ph.D., author of 12 Rules for Good Men and The Irritable Male Syndrome "A provocative, insightful, and useful book that is timely in addressing how men's violence permeates our world. Levant and Pryor's excellent, data based analysis on how masculinity ideology and gender role conflict/stress contribute to men's violence towards others is significant in identifying what has been left out of many critical discussions on a national level and in men's and women's lives. This book is highly recommended to anyone wanting to understand the role that violent masculinity plays in explaining America's number one problem - violence against other human beings." -- James M. O'Neil, Ph.D., Professor of Educational Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut and a licensed psychologist in private practice in South Windsor, CT "What do men do when long-established concepts of masculinity no longer define the American male? In the workplace, the home, and even the military - perhaps the last bastion of traditional American masculinity - the roles of men are increasingly challenged. There are no easy answers to the complex and changing definition of masculinity, and Levant and Pryor do not pretend to present any. By a careful dissection of elements of traditional masculine identity, this book provides some insight into how such attitudes have shaped American men. The authors do a service by providing the reader not with answers but with framework for further discussion." -- Morgan T. Sammons, PhD, ABPP, Executive Officer, The National Register of Health Service Psychologists "A masterful analysis of what we know, what we need to know, and what we need to do about the connection between masculinity and violence. Levant and Pryor provide an essential understanding of male sexual and gun violence that is sensitive to racial/ethnic, cultural, and class differences. In addition, they offer insight into some tricky conceptual issues about masculinity, and a sympathetic view of the challenges that men face in meeting "the tough standard"--today's changing, diverse, and often contradictory expectations for them." -- Joseph H. Pleck, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois "This is a critically important work from a leading scholar and founder of our modern psychology of masculinities. The authors synthesize decades of research across various disciplines to help us better understand how masculinities and violence intersect in the lives of some men. Using their experiences, Levant and Pryor wrote a book that is provocative, incisive, and relevant for us who work with masculinities." -- William Ming Liu, Ph.D., Professor, University of Maryland; Editor, Psychology of Men and Masculinities "We are well past the time for a serious discussion about the connection between masculinity and violence. Ron Levant and Shana Pryor are the perfect guides for an honest and evidence-based discussion about what is one of the most pressing concerns facing modern society. This is a thoughtful and intelligent book that helps the reader understand the underlying concerns that are much deeper than the common discourse about violence. At some point we all have to take a deep look at the culture of violence that influences us all, and has vast consequences for many men." -- Matt Englar-Carlson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Counseling, Education Classroom Building, Room 426, California State University, Fullerton "In The Tough Standard: The Hard Truths About Masculinity and Violence, Dr. Ron Levant and Shana Pryor take decades of authoritative work on masculinity in American men and describe how it can and has led to violence, as well as to economic stagnation, and other social pathologies. At this moment of extensive feminist reawakening and intensification, by way of the #MeToo movement, and the importance of inclusiveness and intersectionality, Dr. Levant and Shana Pryor's findings feel essential for men, women, and the culture." -- John Kelly, author of The Graves Are Walking: The Great Famine and the Saga of the Irish People and The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time "The Tough Standard is the new standard for understanding the shaping of masculinity and the risks of rigid over-adherence to traditional norms. This critical volume also addresses the role of masculinity in modern social challenges, from gun violence to untreated trauma. An essential tool to understand today's social problems and their links to gender socialization." -- Mike C. Parent, PhD. Assistant professor, University of Texas at Austin "Dr. Ron Levant has devoted his impressive career to understanding and helping men. In this new volume, he reviews and synthesizes his substantial publication record with the available literature, providing new insights on a body of research and therapeutic work that spans four decades.The Tough Standard provides provocative evidence about how America's traditional definition of masculinity contributes to men's violence against others and themselves." -- Andrew P. Smiler, PhD, Therapist and Author of Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy; Editor, Online Publications, Society for Research on Adolescence "A timely book that is packed with research and insights from a distinguished career in studying men and masculinity. Levant and Pryor do not shy away from controversial topics like gun violence, suicide, and sexual assault, and they offer realistic and urgent solutions to help promote health in boys and men." -- Kate Richmond, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of Women & Gender Studies, Muhlenberg College