about Higher Unlearning

It feels more confusing than ever to figure out what it means to be a man today? Where are the everyday examples or maps to manhood for men and young men? jeff perera started Higher Unlearning as an online space to explore ways to move towards emotionally healthy masculinties, and helpful versus harmful ideas of manhood.

Instead of trying to climb the Ladder of Manhood, men and young men can embrace their own unique journey towards a full, whole idea of being a man. We’ll look at everyday situations and scenarios men and young men encounter, ask the hard questions, and wade into discomfort (where the real learning and unlearning happens).

We will go there, let’s go there together.

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about jeff perera

In a time of divides and tension, it is time to build bridges of understanding across our oceans of difference. We need to inspire men and young men in an engaging way to embrace learning, unlearning, growth, and striving to become models of possibility for other men.

Jeff is a speaker, writer and facilitator, who since 2008 has delivered keynotes, talks and workshops for tens of thousands of people across North America and beyond about healthy vs harmful ideas of manhood, race and gender, masculinity, empathy-building, and men helping end gender-based violence. Whether in the boardroom, on campus, or the locker room, we need more examples of positive ways to be a man today.

He delivers interactive talks for team leaders and groups within various organizations, conferences and community spaces, as well as grade school, high school, college and university students. Jeff discusses how society’s unattainable and harmful ideas of masculinity impact people of all genders, as well as ways forward and positive maps to manhood.  From speaking with teammates at Rogers Media, Klick, Restaurant Brands International, Canadian Digital Service, Manulife, Vidyard, Canada Post, to numerous conferences, spaces, communities, teams, organizations, and post-secondary spaces: Jeff creates space for people of all genders to discuss how we can ‘be the lesson in action’!

Jeff contributes articles to Huffington Post and has delivered two TEDx talks on Masculinity and men’s troubled pursuits of identity: Words Speak Louder Than Actions looking at the power of gendered words, and The Ladder of Manhood which explores the male pursuit of identity and how too many men are fluent in a language of violence. Jeff started Higher Unlearning as an online space to explore how ideas of gender and masculinity impact us in everyday life. Jeff has organized dozens upon dozens of gender/masculinity-related events, founded and curated the first four ‘What Makes a Man’ discussion-focused conferences, and was event director for the first TEDxWomen event in Toronto, Canada. He was named to Racism Free Ontario’s Top 100 Person of Colour list spotlighting anti-racism activists.

Together, let’s discuss Healthy vs Harmful Masculinities, ‘Men Building Empathy Muscles’, Men respecting women’s ‘Emotional PPE’, or ‘Men Striving to Be an Ally!’ Together, we can create brave spaces for real discussion, challenge our gendered ideas of success and failure, and be the men we believe we are.

Click here to bring Jeff to deliver a talk!
or click here to message Jeff