Former National Football League player, Joe Ehrmann, visited Ashland University and spoke in the Upper Convocation Center on March 18. Ehrmann discussed issues regarding gender, violence and masculinity.

After playing in NFL for 13 years, Ehrmann retired and coached in a high school in Baltimore for a couple of years and started a coaching philosophy, called Inside Out Coaching. Ehrmann has been working hard to help resolve the issue of male violence amongst young people.

On Friday night, Ehrmann opened his speech discussing the role of gender, class, race and sexual orientation in America’s society from the past. He pointed out how males in America were taught to be strong and brave, and to never show their soft feelings or sentimental side to others, since they were very little. Ehrmann then asked the audience how they define what it means to be a man and how they define themselves as human beings. He brought up the story when he lost his own brother to cancer when they were both young and talked about his feelings and thoughts at that time.

Later, Ehrmann emphasized that for males, being physically strong or tough is not enough to show masculinity, and abusing females is a shame instead of something to be proud of. Ehrmann also talked about how little girls in America sometimes were influenced by cartoons and social media, thinking about finding the “Prince Charming” to come and solve their issues. As for some teenage girls, they were wrongly told to value themselves based on physical appearance.

At the end, Ehrmann told the audience that he believed there were two important things regarding the definition of a human being—the capability to love and to build relationships with others and the impact this person has on the society. Then Ehrmann took some questions from the audience and ended his speech.

Mark Hamilton, associate professor of Philosophy, has been using Ehrmann’s book “Season of Life” in his class for many years and he spoke highly of Ehrmann’s presentation.

“I thought Joe spoke clearly to what is happening today in our society and the crisis of manhood—what is means to be a man. He really is on target when he speaks about false masculinity,” said Hamilton. “It was a wonderful evening to bring in together different organizations and sponsors to this event.”

AU head football coach Lee Owens attended this event along with AU’s football team. He introduced Ehrmann to the audience before the presentation and he also thought highly of Ehrmann’s work.

“It was important for out players to hear this speech, because [for these football players] masculinity, the definition of being a man can be confused with the sport,” said Owens. “I also thought he was positive when he talked about teams and how important teams are when they have strong relationships from the heart and the willing to work together for a good cause, and play for good reasons.”