1. I think that he means that institutions have a big role in the gender problems. Institutions create our society, so their rules create out society and how it works in there. How men are supposed to behave, to dress, how women are supposed to talk, it all reflects on the gender problems. When I was in highschool, we had uniforms. These uniforms were strict. Girls had to wear skirts and boys had to wear ties, etc. This has an impact on how the boys feel, and how « masculine » they should be.
2. I think the author says masculinities because just like je explains in his text, mascilinity has a different definition in every culture, everywhere in the world. Some things may be seen masculine in Africa while in America, it doesn’t make sense at all. In the fourth episode of Man Enough, the author explains all the types and definitions of masculinity. The quote given means that if we understand gender problems, it can change the world, for the better. That’s what he means by social change.
Lovers and Fighters | Section 22 