Toxic masculinity–the way of being a man that requires aggression, sexual domination, earning big money, being athletic, and most definitely, being heterosexual–not only feeds rape culture, but is co-dependent upon it. In fact, rape culture and toxic masculinity feed each other while destroying everything they touch. The video below from MTV News provides a quick and…
When someone we care about is in pain, we want to take that pain away, we want them to feel better. To do this, we often try to offer silver linings, or get them to look on the bright side. This is offering sympathy. The advocacy model for supporting someone experiencing trauma is rooted in…
Empathy–the ability to understand the emotional experience of another person–is, not hyperbolically, the beginning step to answering most of the problems we face as a society. We are currently experiencing an era of increased “Othering” in which we are encouraged to see the differences in other people, and not the similarities. And because of those differences we are…
Men’s labor is often defined by work that occurs outside the home, that can be easily quantified and monetized. Domestic labor, or the work that happens in this home, as a part of daily life, is often framed as less valuable, and often unpaid (ignoring monetized domestic labor provided in other people’s homes by women of color).…
“I am strong. I am smart. I work hard. I am beautiful. I am respectful.” With these words Ron Alston, father of three-year-old Aliya, walks his daughter through a morning mantra encouraging her to be positive, empathic, and confident as she heads off to school. In this clip, posted to his personal Facebook page, Alston…
In a culture that mandates isolation, and suppression of emotions, asking for help is an act of revolution. Suicide is reaching epidemic levels in the United States–as in many parts of the world, especially the Global North. While CDC reports highlight that girls and women often attempt suicide at higher rates, boys and men are…
What would happen if every time someone asked you, “how are you?” or “how’s it going?” or “how was your weekend?” you actually answered truthfully, and not took it as a mere pleasantry. In this testimonial, author, Evan Porter, challenges himself to this very task. Requiring himself to not only be in touch with what…
bell hooks asserts that the only emotion men are empowered to express in patriarchal culture is anger. Boys are not encouraged to feel and express a range of emotions, and are often told that fear, sadness, insecurity, or loneliness are signs of weakness and “unmanly.” As a result, many men grow up not knowing how…
