Don't think I shall make it this year but this is open to everyone. I will try to cut and past the program

 It's final - The Men and Families super exciting conference will be at the Hilton Barbados Resort this September 19 - 20, 2025.

We are extremely pleased to share with you our tentative schedule. We also have a flyer with all of the speakers on it. Please see attached. 

The conference rooms have limited space so please do not wait to register! 

Early bird: May 15

This is a hybrid conference with all (but 1) of the speakers will be in-person 🙂 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Limited rooms reserved!!!

We have a special conference rate of $199 USD/night (with taxes, $219 + 10% service tax + $9.63 = $249/night). So when you use the code, you'll see $219 but that's including the tax.

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/internationalfamiliesallianceconference/

Or the group code: 90O

For more details, see www.IFAlliance.net 

We would be grateful if you can distribute this far and wide!

Let's make great connections in Barbados 🙂 

Can't wait to see everybody again.

Sue and Rebekah

Conference organizers

Susan S. Chuang, PhD, Acc.FM

Professor & Accredited Family Mediator 

Associate Editor, Journal of Family Psychology

Series Editor, Advances in Immigrant Family Research, Springer

https://www.springer.com/series/8807?detailsPage=titles

Series Editor, Men, Family, and Society, Springer

Macdonald Institute, Room 133D

University of Guelph

Guelph, ON  N1G 2W1

Email: schuang@uoguelph.ca

Susan S. Chuang | Family Relations & Applied Nutrition (uoguelph.ca)

Upcoming International Men and Families Conference - Barbados September 2025: www.IFAlliance.net 

Recent publication: McGraw Hill (2023)

           

Hong Kong Researcher: In Chinese Context. notes from men’s conference

 

Psychological Trauma:  stigma, cultural stigma, masculinity.  China and Hong Kong.  Traditionally three character classes in Chinese culture.  Nowadays masculinity signifies a man with material and upward mobility. Rresearch targeted research participants.  Heterosexual men,  found 19 participants:  Findings and discussion.  Male was hit by his wife with a pair of scissors.  Since then, he has had fears to sleep with her.  His wife said it was acceptable to beat her husband because he did not make enough money.  He internalized it - felt shame and ashamed.  Another participant was attacked by his ex-wife with a hot iron several times.  She criticized his ability and depreciated him as an indecisive.  Gradually he accepted her criticism as being wimpish and a coward.  He dared not express his views in front of others.

Another participant, his wife would kick him and tell him that he was useless and not making more money than her.  Many of the participants excluding four, were considered useless by their wives and not earning enough money.  Physical violence was always associated with not making enough money.

Another man was slapped and kicked by his wife in front of the children.  His daughter expressed shame, because her father could not provide enough money for her to participate in school activities.  It was found that fathers who were attacked by their mothers was contributed by the father’s relationship in that he could not provide sufficient finance.  Not having a high finance, these fathers still strive to be good fathers.  Results:  intensive shame and stigma; superiority in earning incomes, expectation of high income.  First priority is to provide financial resources.

This year the Men's conference is in the Carabean.  I do not fly and time this year is difficult since I am planning on moving.  Soon I shall be returning to Niagara to look at more houses/condos.  However, I do need 20 hours of education each year so I am going to have to attend something, which will probably be the conference by the Canadian Association of Couple and Family Therapy which will be held at Guelph University.  The last time I was there I had a great time and met wonderful people.  This time it will be difficult because we won't be babied as much.  The last time if we had a choice of hotels or staying on campus (I had a entire townhouse to myself, but I found it creepy).  Those choosing to stay at hotels had a van provided to transport them.  We had many activities where transport was provided and we had great food.  This was organized by York University Retirees.  Those were the days my friend.   This time.  Your on you own pal.  

Child sexual Abuse , University of Berlin, by Anja Berger

 At my last conference with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists one of the speakers from Germany, Anja Berger, from Berlin’s School of Economics provided a lecture regarding child abuse, men’s sexual aggression.  The data she provided is 12 years old.  Sexual abuse is still high.  Re-victimization rate of a child is 47%.  This experience distorts the child’s self concept, view of the world and affective functioning.  Pathway:  traumatic sexualization, Betrayal:  many abusers are parents, fathers and mothers who keep quiet.  Stigmatization.  Children don’t know how to escape, what to do next.  There is a sense of what to do next - a sense of worthlessness.  Later in life there is a risk of low self esteem, helplessness and insecure attachment.  There was an experiment where every third male has experienced emotional abuse in childhood.  Men we see you and hear you.  Continue to work with the group and vulnerable behaviour starts and the question is how to help you?  The study was explained and it consists of University students.  This would probably increase among non-university students, depending on social economics.  

     This year the conference will be held in California.  I wish it was closer.  Attending  all depends if I buy a house in Niagara and if I am settled and also the costs of course.  Time will tell.  I will be attending a conference in Guelph hopefully with the Canadian Association of Couple and Family Therapy.  At the moment I may see clients in Ontario and Quebec on line or in person.  I do however consult outside the area.  

If there are any errors here I claim full responsibility.   www.redigondapsychotherapy.com.