Derek Griffith
Black American
Professor Derek M. Griffith is a Founding Co-Director of the Racial Justice Institute, Founder and Director of the Center for Men’s Health Equity, Member of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Professor of Health Management & Policy and Oncology. Trained in psychology and public health, Dr. Griffith’s program of research focuses on developing strategies to achieve racial, ethnic and gender equity in health, and he is the Chair of Global Action on Men’s Health. He specializes in interventions to promote Black American men's health and well-being, and interventions to address racism in organizations and to mitigate the effects of structural racism on health.
Men, Gender Equity, and Anti-Racism: Organizing and Research Perspectives
Many of the outcomes that anti-racism organizing seeks to address - education, incarceration, and health - vary greatly by sex and gender. Yet, few antiracism efforts consider these patterns or frame these efforts considering a gendered lens, and global evidence suggests that progress in these areas have not equally benefitted men and women. In this fireside chat, we will explore these observations and discuss the implications for antiracism organizing and scholarship. We seek to grapple with the paradox that males are faring worse than women in key areas of life, despite their structural advantages in society. We wrestle with the persistent assumption that advancing men’s health and gender equity are at odds, and the finding from qualitative research that men tend to recognize traditional hegemonic masculine ideals but often do not subscribe to them. We look forward to a discussion that helps us identify a path forward that is beneficial for all.
