Masculinity meets diversity
Dr. Ben Barry, Professor and Director, Centre for Fashion Diversity and Social Change
Posing with one hand over his eye and the other on his heart, Parambir confronts assumptions and misconceptions about South Asian and Sikh men. The physician is one of 50 men featured in Refashioning Masculinity (external link, opens in new window) , the brainchild of Dr. Ben Barry, a professor for Canada’s only graduate Fashion program (opens in new window) and director of the Centre for Fashion Diversity and Social Change.
Ben’s SSHRC-funded research project challenges notions of masculinity while celebrating diversity by exploring how men from all walks of life use fashion to construct and reimagine their gender identity. Through his research, Ben is promoting dialogue and changing the way people view gender, beauty and body image.
“I am dedicated to using fashion to promote human diversity, body confidence and social justice,” says Ben, who has worked with governments in Quebec and the U.K. to develop public policies fostering body confidence.
At TMU (formerly Ryerson), we are empowered by diversity and defined by impact.
Photo credit: Lawrence Cortez