Increasing Critical Consciousness: Masculinity, Power, and Higher Education

Research that examines the educational experiences of boys and men of color (BMOC) has often illustrated many challenges encountered throughout their pathways. Common areas of concern in higher education research are BMOC educational and career trajectories. An area that has been identified as a cause for concern are the gendered environments and socialization of masculinity that young men navigate. Further, these areas of research seldom examine practical methods that address gender socialization or hegemonic masculinity as a cause for concern within educational spaces. This study examined a course and instructor who attempted to employ critical hope and critical consciousness by using content focusing on the experiences of BMOC as a lens for undergraduate students to view the prevalence and potentially harmful impact of hegemonic masculinity. Preliminary findings demonstrate that 20 marginalized students (7 female-identified and 13 male-identified) cultivated critical consciousness as a result of their engagement in the course space, curriculum, and assignments.