Positive & Toxic Masculinities

Let's explore the topic of Positive & Toxic Masculinities together.

Here are a few prompts to get started with the conversation:

• How are masculine stereotypes culturally and biologically shaped and how have they changed over time?
• What do you consider as masculine traits (behavioural, looks)?
• How can some expressions of masculinity be harmful for its social, economic and natural environments?
• How can positive expressions of masculinity challenge harmful masculine stereotypes?
• How can emotional intelligence help create a more positive and inclusive version of masculinity?
• What are positive role models for masculinity?
• Is there a crisis of masculinity / lack of positive role models?

🌮 Food for thought - quotes from philosophers and other thinkers

1. "Boys don‘t hunger from fathers who will model traditional mores of masculinity. They hunger from fathers who will rescue them from it." – Terrence Real
2. "It is fatal to be a man or woman pure and simple; one must be a woman-manly or a man-womanly." — Virginia Woolf
3. "Sometimes, how you ingest this idea of masculinity as projected onto you by the world could be the difference of life and death." — Barry Jenkins, filmmaker
4. "The first act of violence that patriarchy demands of males is not violence towards women. Instead, patriarchy demands of all males that they engage in acts of psychic self-mutilation, that they kill off the emotional parts of themselves." — Bell Hooks

If you've never participated before, here's what to expect:

• 2 hours of deep, interesting conversations in a respectful environment that will elevate your spirit and give you new ideas for life, work or relationships
• a supportive group of people sharing their own unique experiences and viewpoints, and encouraging you to do the same
• a rich mix of newcomers and regulars from different countries and cultures for a broad diversity of opinions and experiences

Please remember the existing rules of this group:

• DO express your ideas clearly, calmly and concisely
• DO listen actively
• DO approach the conversation with an open mind and be willing to hear different perspectives
• DO make yourself fully present. DON'T pull out your phone during the conversation

🚫 No-show policy
As the group size is small, no-shows have a strong negative impact on the group. As such, the policy is that as a general rule, no-shows and same-day cancellations will not be able to sign up for future events. To avoid this:

• Only reserve a spot if you really intend to come.
• If your plans have changed, cancel at least 24 hours before the event, to give people on the waiting list a chance to change their own plans and make it to the event.
• If you have a real last-minute emergency and need to cancel in the last 24 hours, please contact me directly to avoid "no-show" status.