Beyond the Divide: Men and Women Learning from Each Other

The gender war is over -- and if it isn't, it should be. Most people are willing to work for gender equality that leads to positive and productive relationships with the opposite sex. Applying the current social and interpersonal tools available often leaves them feeling frustrated and exhausted. These "best practices" are built on a flawed adversarial system of "us vs. them" which perpetuates the gender gap - a divide between men and women. Mike Marvin and Christina Lopez help men and women get beyond the divide and experience the power of working together. As Marvin and Lopez collaborated, they concluded that true equality cannot be achieved until this gender gap is addressed and the culturally-reinforced division between men and women is eliminated. When men and women appreciate and learn from each other, they find new pathways to the social and civic change for which we are all striving. The thought-provoking, strength-based solutions proposed by the authors rely on principles they have developed while interacting with thousands of people in work, educational, and family environments. Marvin and Lopez present their insightful, in-depth wisdom based on their research, training, and experience. The result is a relatable and practical guide which helps men and women navigate their personal and professional relationships.

About the Author :
For over 30 years, Mike Marvin has spoken out and taken action both personally and professionally to advocate for the equality of the sexes. Mike has worked as a computer programmer, an engineer, a manufacturing production supervisor and a college professor teaching computer science and mathematics. In all of these predominantly male environments, he worked closely with female colleagues to find solutions that not only worked for women but helped everyone be more engaged and productive. - As a supervisor in a fortune 500 manufacturing company, Mike increased the percentage of women on the production line from 8% to 35% in 2 years. - He has facilitated community discussion groups focusing on reducing violence against women. - He received the Sara Terrano Memorial Award for excellence in the prevention of Domestic Violence - a lifelong commitment. - Mike was invited as a guest panelist at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank where he spoke about how men play a vital role in changing the social norms that allow violence against women. When he's not collaborating with others on gender related issues, Mike enjoys running, volleyball, singing and trying to extend the life of his cars beyond reason. He loves traveling with his wife, Jan... especially when they meet up with their two sons in what they consider "God forsaken" parts of the world (translation: no internet or cell phone service). In addition to his work on gender equality, he is also passionate about working towards racial healing. He is a facilitator of "The Institute for Healing Racism." Christina Lopez has a bachelor degree in Software Engineering and over 18 years of experience in project and team management. She has over 7 years of corporate experience programming high end e-commerce sites that serve an international market. She continues to train corporate managers and supervisors in project management, time management, conflict resolutions and various social media and software strategies. - Christina has been investigating social norms all her life and working on making a difference in equality of men and women in her professional, social, and personal environments. - Christina successfully leads teams of men and women to finish projects on time and within budget - even in predominantly male environments. - As a step-mother of one girl and two boys, she saw the different types of expectations that limited each of their personal interests, education, and talents. - She has coached both male and female athletes in individual and team sports and noticed the effects of the reinforcement of gender norms. When she's not exploring gender roles and dynamics, Christina enjoys travelling with friends, skiing, learning guitar, and volleyball... as long as she's had a cup of coffee first. Boundless Connections transforms ideas into reality through project, process, and change management with on and off site training & coaching. Gender Equality - Striving for gender equality is critical to efficient, productive, and comfortable relationships at home, school and work. Are you ready to go beyond the divide? We can take you there. Technology & Social Media- Effective use of technology and strategies that move through constant change are vital to the success of families, schools, organizations, and communities. There's no cookie cutter stuff here - we work with you develop and implement custom solutions and training workshops that address your specific needs. Management & Leadership - It only takes a few people to make or break an organization. Developing leadership that has a clear, strategic vision is a crucial component of successful business. Let us show you strategies that reinforce and compliment the systems you already have in place.

Review :
"Beyond the Divide is a fresh, original, deeply honest look at the barriers to genuine gender equality. It offers clear, accessible wisdom, and illuminating steps we can all take to heal and nurture our relationships within our families, workplaces, and educational systems. Simply brilliant!" - Linda Kavelin-Popov, Best selling author and Co founder of The Virtues Project "You know the fighting and arguing has got to stop sometime. Either with both sides separated forever or both sides coming together as one. Marvin and Lopez are here to stop us pushing away and start pulling closer to each other. Beyond the Divide encompasses the deeply personal as well as the far reaching social aspects of gender equality." ` Wilhelm Cortez, Executive Editor at The Good Men Project