Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the underrepresentation of undergraduate men in service-learning programs. First, the author offers a conceptual roadmap to better understand hegemonic conceptions of masculinity that lead to a perceived incongruence between appropriate masculine behavior and service. The author makes an argument that those men who subscribe to hegemonic masculinity have much to gain from participation in service-learning courses and programs. Then, drawing on qualitative data, the author explores the motivations of college men who participated in a semester-long service-learning course. Despite prevailing wisdom on campus that service was largely a feminine endeavor, these men described three means of motivation: identity work, structure and accountability, and the social component of service.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Chesbrough, R. D. (2011). College students and service: A mixed methods exploration of motivations, choices, and learning outcomes. Journal of College Student Development, 52(6), 687–705.
Connell, R. W. (2005). Masculinities (2nd ed.). Berkley, CA: University of California Press.
Davis, T. (2002). Voices of gender role conflict: The social construction of college men’s identity. Journal of College Student Development, 43(4), 508–521.
Edwards, K. E., & Jones, S. R. (2009). “Putting my man face on”: A grounded theory of college men’s gender identity development. Journal of College Student Development, 50(2), 210–228.
Eyler, J., & Giles, D., Jr. (1999). Where’s the learning in service-learning? San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Foste, Z. H., & Jones, S. R. (2016, November). “It’s okay to talk about more than beer and sports”: Narratives of collegiate men in service-learning programs. Paper presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Columbus, OH.
Giroux, H. A., & Giroux, S. S. (2004). Take back higher education: Race, youth, and the crisis of democracy in the post-civil rights era. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Harper, S. R. (2004). The measure of a man: Conceptualizations of masculinity among high-achieving African American male college students. Berkeley Journal of Sociology, 48(1), 89–107.
Harris, F. (2010). College men’s conceptualizations of masculinities and contextual influences: Toward a conceptual model. Journal of College Student Development, 51(3), 297–318.
Jones, S. R., & Abes, E. S. (2004). Enduring influences of service-learning on college students’ identity development. Journal of College Student Development, 45(2), 149–166.
Jones, S. R., & Hill, K. (2001). Crossing high street: Understanding diversity through community service learning. Journal of College Student Development, 42(3), 204–216.
Keen, C., & Hall, K. (2009). Engaging with difference matters: Longitudinal student outcomes of co-curricular service-learning programs. The Journal of Higher Education, 80(1), 59–79.
Kimmel, M. (2008). Guyland: The perilous world where boys become men. New York, NY: Harper Collins Press.
Martin, B., & Harris, F. (2006). Examining productive conceptions of masculinities: Lessons learned from academically driven African American male student-athletes. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 14(3), 359–378.
Rhoads, R. A. (2000). Democratic citizenship and service learning: Advancing the caring self. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 82, 38–44.
Sax, L. J. (2008). The gender gap in college: Maximizing the developmental potential of women and men. San Francisco, CA: Wiley.
Tillapaugh, D. (2015). Critical influences on sexual minority college males’ meaning-making of their multiple identities. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 52(1), 64–75.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Foste, Z. (2018). Engaging Undergraduate Men in Service-Learning: Exploring Motivations to Serve. In: Mitchell, T., Soria, K. (eds) Educating for Citizenship and Social Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62971-1_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62971-1_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62970-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62971-1
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)