Looking for a Healthier Masculinity? Listen to These 5 Men [Videos Included]

As a society, we are currently facing a cultural upheaval when it comes to our thinking around men and around masculinity. To put it simply, the script has flipped.
The last couple years have revealed to us that a well-documented sexual predator and misogynist can ascend to the highest office in the land, that the man who was once America’s favorite dad was a serial assaulter, and that Hollywood and men with power have been playing above the law (go figure).
What does this mean for us as a culture? What does it mean for those of us who are men? For those of us that have men that they care about in their lives?
Moments like this, as trying as they are, present us with a hopeful path forward. A path that presents us with a different way for men to engage in their maleness and their masculinity. We have the opportunity to recreate and redefine what a masculinity that allows for the care and well being of men and their loved ones really looks like. For us to truly envision this new paradigm, let’s start with 5 men who are already pushing the culture forward.
- Dr. Charles Corprew | The Revolution in Men’s Health
Why You Should Listen: Dr. Charles Corprew is a transformational consultant, speaker, and thought leader with a PhD in Psychological Sciences from Tulane University and is the founder of What’s Your Revolution. Dr. Corprew’s research and current work focuses on dismantling toxic masculinity or “hyper masculinity” and building a narrative and a framework for us to actualize a healthy masculinity. He makes the extremely refreshing and compelling case for us to begin the journey in this video.
2. Justin Baldoni | Why I’m Done Trying to Be Man Enough
Why You Should Listen: Justin Baldoni of Jane the Virgin fame unpacks the social scripts that we’ve been handled and the roles that we’ve each been assigned. This humorous and authentic talk illustrates how men are socialized to avoid vulnerability. Baldoni leaves men with the challenge, “Are you brave enough to be vulnerable?”
3. Arturo Nunez | A Brave New Paradigm of Manhood
Why You Should Listen: Head of Marketing at Apple, Arturo Nunez, dispels many of the myths and fallacies that we associate with manhood such as athletic prowess, sexual prowess, and economic status. Nunez then presents us with new qualifiers for effective manhood, such as responsibility, reciprocity, the ability to love and be loved, and the quest for self-actualization while using one of the world’s most famous athletes as a model for this.
4. Richard Doss | Trained Not to Cry: The Challenge of Being a Soldier
Why You Should Listen: Doss, an official with the Department of Defense, recounts a touching narrative about a young soldier during the beginnings of the U.S. — Iraq War. He eloquently weaves a narrative that shows how we stifle the full range of emotions experienced by men and in this particular case, the men and women in our military. He leaves the audience with sobering words “Some soldiers aren’t afraid to die, but many are struggling to find a reason to live.”
5. Ashanti Branch | The Mask We All Wear
Why You Should Listen: Ashanti Branch, an educator and founder of the Ever Forward Club shares a powerful, personal narrative about the tensions that exist when boys come face to face with the “mask” of masculinity. He challenges us to step into a full and authentic expression of ourselves that allows us to truly live a purpose driven life and allows for meaningful connection.
Interested in engaging in further conversations around masculinity, social justice, and faith? Then check out TheAffirmative.co, a digital community committed to growth and well-being of millennial men of color.
Originally published at www.theaffirmative.co.
