First Jena Men's Week

With the support of the City of Jena's Equal Opportunities Office, a Men's Week will be launched in Jena for the first time next Monday. Initiatives and associations working with boys and men in Jena have prepared a varied program for the period from 13 to 19 November. It offers boys, men and interested parties the opportunity to explore topics such as being a boy, father, man and male role stereotypes in a variety of ways. The focus is on men in their various life situations.

The programme was organized by the men's counselling service in Thuringia "PROJEKT A4", the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Jungen- und Männerarbeit Thüringen e.V., the Fachstelle geschlechtersensible Kinder- und Jugendarbeit Jena e.V., Jumäx Jena, and the Gleichstellungsstelle der Stadt Jena. One of the initiators' aims is also to pool existing services aimed at boys and men in Jena and make them better known.

The program includes activities, workshops and lectures - including discussion groups, a birth preparation course for fathers, a radio show, a self-assertion course for boys and a hike around Jena with a picnic. On International Men's Day (November 19), a "Fathers' Breakfast" will be held at the Family Center.

Background:

In 1999, International Men's Day was established on 19 November with the aim of improving the relationship between the sexes, promoting equality, valuing men and recognizing their contribution to society.

Kick-off event and panel discussion:

When?
Monday, November 13, 2023, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

What will take place?
Discussion panel "Masculinity - all toxic or what?"

Where?
Jena Town Hall, Plenary Hall, Markt 1, 07743 Jena

Participants in the panel discussion:

Prof. Dr. Sylka Scholz - Sociologist Friedrich Schiller University Jena with a focus on gender studies, in particular masculinity research and gender images in East and West Germany
Markus Theunert - psychologist, masculinity expert and author ("Boys we can do it - a compass for men today")
Björn Süfke - men's counselor and author ("Den Mann zur Sprache bringen"), project manager "Hilfetelefon Gewalt an Männern"
Hagen Bottek - LAG Jungen- und Männerarbeit Thüringen e.V., systemic therapist and employee at PROJEKT A4 (VEREINT gegen Gewalt e.V.), the specialist counseling center for men affected by domestic violence and stalking in Thuringia