Men are commonly expected to act "masculine" (e.g., self-sufficient, stoic, strong, dependable, brave, tough, and hard-working) while avoiding stereotypically "feminine" traits (e.g., emotional expressivity, empathy, and nurturance). Few, however, realize that these qualities--when taken to the extreme--can cause emotional constriction, substance abuse, depression, aggression, and violence in many men. Further, even though most men are not violent, decades of research has shown that masculinity is distinctly related to sexual and gun violence and men's poorer health. Considering how girls and women have benefitted from decades of conversations on navigation of their gender in a changing world, similar processes are urgently needed for boys and men. The Tough Standard connects the dots between masculinity and the present moment in American culture (defined by high-profile movements such as Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter), synthesizes over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities, and proposes solutions to corresponding social problems. "This work, more than a book about men and violence, is also a thorough examination of the theory and measurement of masculinities and the byproducts of the negative side of traditional gender roles, not only on those whom some men harm, but on men themselves." -- Christopher Kilmartin, The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity "Overall, this work, more than a book about men and violence, is also a thorough examination of the theory and measurement of masculinities and the byproducts of the negative side of traditional gender roles, not only on those whom some men harm, but on men themselves." -- Christopher Kilmartin, APA - Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity " The Tough Standard provides an important baseline for illuminating how men's perpetration of violence is influenced by masculine norms and offers new ways of conceptualizing masculinities to be more inclusive and progressive." -- Psychology of Women Quarterly "The compassion the authors feel for men can be felt throughout every chapter, with sensitivity to cultural identities, positive aspects of masculinity, and the difficulty men may feel when incarcerated by their emotions." -- Psychotherapy Bulletin " 'The Tough Standard' holds out hope for a healthier conception of masculinity in the future...In the meantime, there's also education, maturity and wisdom. Even without a clear consensus, men may still find their way to a better masculinity." -- DON SIMPSON, Pittsburgh Post Gazette "What Levant and Pryor do in The Tough Standard is take forty years of research and experience and connect all the dots between masculinity and our present moment in time." -- Garrett Carlson, Dudefluencer " The Tough Standard is a quick read at only 153 pages of text, and it is impressive how the authors describe over thirty years of research in such a succinct way." -- David J. Wimer, Journal of Constructivist Psychology "Rather than tearing down masculinity, [Levant and Pryor] are offering a model that expands it into areas historically proscribed for men, allowing men to express themselves as fully human and thus access useful resources with which to manage their lives ... this work, more than a book about men and violence, is also a thorough examination of the theory and measurement of masculinities and the byproducts of the negative side of traditional gender roles, not only on those whom some men harm, but on men themselves." -- Christopher Kilmartin, APA Div. 44 "In their book, The Tough Standard , Dr. Levant and Ms. Pryor practically rip the topics from today's headlines and situate the troubling events of men's violence in a strong theoretical and empirical body of work, bringing light-instead of just heat-to the issues they address. It is a must-read as a resource to understand and engage in critical issues affecting our lives, families, and the fabric of society in the United States." -- James R. Mahalik, PhD, MA, Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College "Most acts of sexual assault and gun violence are perpetrated by men, yet most men are not violent. How then do we explain the connection between men and violence without condemning men? In this book, Ron Levant and Shana Pryor skillfully address this conundrum, by shifting the focus of analysis to masculinity. This book has the perfect blend of contemporary issues (e.g., the #MeToo movement), science, theory, and practical examples. I highly commend it to anyone who seeks to understand the complex relationship between gender and violence." -- Joel Wong, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling Psychology, Indiana University "Take a deep breath and prepare to hold yourself and your community accountable. Tough Standard takes an honest and well-researched look at the implications of modern masculinity. Accessible to