Masculinity is in the news - but for the wrong reasons. Stress and mental health issues are on the rise while unconscious bias means it is harder for men to ‘lean in’ at home. Yet our constructs around masculinity mean that it is sometimes hard for men to ask for the support they need.
Perhaps it's time for masculinity to evolve. How can the workplace be a microcosm for the change we want to see in the world? How do we create a more modern, inclusive and open workplace culture that works for men, women and everyone? And what have people already done to create positive change in the workplace?
In this we provide valuable insights into how traditional constructs of masculinity are damaging business and how a modern and conscious version of masculinity can benefit men as well as everyone else in the workplace. Expect to come out with actionable changes (hacks) you can make both as an individual and as a business to create a more inclusive culture.
9. Which, if any, of the following
do you think makes someone
a good role model?
10. … be considerate towards others
… be hard working
… be open-minded
… prioritise family needs
… be good with money
… be in good shape, physically
… be able to fix/repair things
… look after his mental health
… look after his appearance
… be cultured
… be well-traveled
… none of these
12. Why might a traditional
view of masculinity be
a problem in society?
13. “… when we tell a boy to act ‘like a man’, we’re
effectively saying. ‘stop expressing those
feelings.’ And if the boy hears that often
enough, it actually starts to sound uncannily
like, ‘Stop feeling those feelings.”
#hownottobeaboy
14. In 2014, a man took his own life in the UK
every 2 hours
Source: CALM
15. 41% of men who contemplated suicide,
felt they couldn’t talk
about their feelings
Source: CALM
17. “[Default Man]… prioritises ‘rational
goal’s like profit, efficiency, self
determination and ambition over
emotional rewards like social cohesion,
quality of life, culture and happiness.”
#descentofaman
18. 87% of men wish they could spend more
time with their children
Source: CALM & The Huffington Post
19. Men are significantly more likely to report
experiencing work-related stress than
women, with half of male respondents (50%)
confessing this was the case, compared with
more than one in three (38%) females.
Source: PerkBox, Workplace Stress Survey (2018)
20. Source: Lightspeed/Mintel (Oct 2016)
While 40% of women spoke to a friend or
colleague, as a means of tackling stress,
only 25% men chose to do so.
21. “I think adaptability is the key to our
masculine future.. emotions and feelings
can be changed. I think that men need to
look inside themselves, become more aware
of their feelings and start adapting.”
Grayson Perry
22. What are the key barriers to a more
conscious masculinity?
38. “In order to emancipate women,
you need to liberate men.”
39. “I believe this is an opportunity for us to truly
empower ourselves as men, hold ourselves
accountable and reap the harmonious benefits
of relinquishing privilege.”
Jordan Stephens
Musician