1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
While this was, in fact, a very informational issue and helpful to many, a
majority of students saw the chart as “not representative of
(Hampden-)Sydney” and a “challenge” to prove they could drink more with
less effects than the average man. One problem we face is that of a drinking
culture at our college and, when compared to the general public, H-SC
typically ranks above the national average for men (data below). On a
national scale, alcohol is interconnected with the social meanings attached
to being masculine (Kilmartin, 266). Often, alcohol is viewed as a “rite of
passage” to manhood and on a college campus, especially an all-male
campus, men typically buy into this wholesale leading to egregious over-
consumption and forming of situations where alcohol is the center-piece of
the interaction.
“Alcohol & Men” (October 2014)
Here we further addressed societal drinking norms relevant to H-SC’s campus. We
took out statements reiterated by multiple students as to what their views on
drinking were and all of them were conventionally masculine: heavy drinkers, the
idea of invulnerability, and how heavy drinking is just the normal for our campus.
Interestingly enough, the students were able to talk about how alcohol is “just a
part of our campus”, but were unable to talk about why. Williams and Ricardelli
(1999) describe gendered dimensions to men and alcohol use: drinking is a way to
display one’s masculinity. Brooks & Silverstein (1995) research shows that males
are more likely to have peers who are heavy drinkers and to have social groups that
promote binge drinking. An important note about this SSJ issue is the student-body
reaction, many students took to “Yik Yak” to blast the notion that some H-SC men
“drank on 5 or fewer days in the past month” and that alcohol “isn’t that dangerous
because Sydney men have stronger livers.” This response helped showcase how
interconnected alcohol is with H-SC’s student lives and how, even on an
anonymous social media, the students were affirming their own masculinity to
themselves by posting “yaks” that challenge the “Drinking Myths.”
“Drinking Myths” (September 2015)
This issue of the SSJ introduced the topic of
Men’s Relationships and offered three
different types of relationships students
may have with their roommate: “The
Stalemate”, “Middle of the Road”, and
“The Bromance.” There are a total of 8
questions, with four answers each, that help
gauge the level of relationship that the
student has with his roommate. An
oversight on this SSJ issue is that of
heteronormativity (Question 8) and
stereotypical male communication. While
there is absolutely nothing wrong with
being heterosexual, the question assumes
that every male on campus is straight and
exhibits various negative communications.
This small oversight can input a certain
image of a H-SC man into the mind of the
readers and potentially exclude students
who feel they do not fit that stereotype and
thus do not feel a part of their peer group.
Homophobia is one of the largest barriers to
close friendships between men (Reid &
Fine, 1992). Despite the attempt to include
“The Bromance” as a section to include the
idea of men with close relationships, it
continued to further stereotypes of
homophobic, heterosexual men by crossing
out a section that might be “too
homosexual” for the average Sydney
Student.
Looking Forward… (2016-2017)
Proposed for the 2016-2017 academic year is an entire lineup of Stall
Street Journals with the main emphasis being on fighting the stereotype of
men that has become the social norm on the Hampden-Sydney College
campus. We aim to show, without condemning the social norm, that there
are other ways one can be a man and different ways in which it can be
expressed.
One proposal going to be made to the Men’s Studies Committee plans on
starting the year with a general issue regarding masculinities specific to our
college (pictured below).
The second issue is planned to deal with alcohol beyond that of the “BAC
& Men” SSJ issue (far left). The Committee plans on introducing the social
aspects of heavy drinking and what type of societal pressures make men
feel like they have to drink to be included.
Planned for the third issue is going to be Men & Drugs wherein we will
feature a layout similar to the planned second issue. We will discuss the top
group of abused/illegal drugs on our campus and attempt to show why
students do this at our campus and then attempt to show that there are other
ways to enjoy yourself without feeling like less of a man in the eyes of
their peers.
The last issue is planned to deal with Men & Stress where will show how
men are more likely than females to internalize their feelings and issues to
an unhealthy level. We will attempt to show that they are not alone and
incorporate our “Txtabtit” initiative into the poster in order to provide an
anonymous way for our students to talk about their feelings & issues,
Matthew Carter ‘18
Hampden-Sydney College
Men’s Studies Committee
Fighting the Male Stereotype at an All Male College
***DRAFT***
“Every H-SC
student drinks,
he drinks often,
and he drinks a
lot.”
“Quiz: Are You and Your Roommate Destined for Greatness?” (January 2016)
Frequent binge drinking - “3 or more
binge drinking episodes in the previous 2
weeks.”
47% of H-SC students reported frequent
binge drinking.
41% in 2011, 50% in 2008, 46% in 2003.
Reference Data – Students reporting
frequent binge drinking:
24% national males
42% of Longwood University men (2001).
24% UVA, 2014 (combined gender);
20% W&M, 2014 (combined gender)*
* Data from Healthy Minds study
Data collected by
H-SC Office of
Substance Abuse and
Education
% are from 2014
H-SC Nat’l
Consumed
Alcohol
95% 85%
Consumed
Alcohol
Before 18
79% 53%
Consumed
Alcohol
Before 16
40% 26%