With every freighted word and concept this essay picked up, I winced. Then you neatly put it down with nuance and care. A cynical part of me kept waiting for the insults to land so I could point my finger and say, "See? This is what we do. We attack the men. And then they fight back, and we're surprised."
Nope. You disabused that part of me. Thank you. I struggle to love that part, so this helps.
This is one of the best essays I've read on the subject of men. Well done, sir.
Thank you so much brother. I tried very hard to walk that line between calling men forward and not demonizing masculinity - which I think is important and necessary for health society and civilization in general.
If there is nothing else I want to do with my time online right now, it's to read content like this. It's not just ringing the same bell that I hit myself. It's pushing me to think in more nuanced ways about this topic.
I'm 100% here to encourage you on this point alone.
The parts about not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, with regards to masculinity vs. "toxic masculinity." Anything that's toxic is bad, but toxicity is something that happens to something that wasn't toxic to begin with, so I like the way you (gently) approach this "hot button issue" that seems to instantly end any significant and worthwhile conversation we have in the West, unless it's in private with someone we trust. I like how you keep advocating a different approach to "Raising men" and I'm fully on board.
This is one of the most articulate explanations of where patriarchy went wrong. Masculinity is not toxic. However, toxic masculinity exists. Femininity is not toxic. But toxic femininity exists, too. It’s the distortion and extreme manifestation of normal traits that exist in both men and women which are used to manipulate, control and exploit others. I love how you walk us through what toxic masculinity looks like and why it exists. I look forward to Parts 2 & 3.
Damn, Jason. Just. Damn.
With every freighted word and concept this essay picked up, I winced. Then you neatly put it down with nuance and care. A cynical part of me kept waiting for the insults to land so I could point my finger and say, "See? This is what we do. We attack the men. And then they fight back, and we're surprised."
Nope. You disabused that part of me. Thank you. I struggle to love that part, so this helps.
This is one of the best essays I've read on the subject of men. Well done, sir.
Thank you so much brother. I tried very hard to walk that line between calling men forward and not demonizing masculinity - which I think is important and necessary for health society and civilization in general.
I really appreciate your encouragement!
If there is nothing else I want to do with my time online right now, it's to read content like this. It's not just ringing the same bell that I hit myself. It's pushing me to think in more nuanced ways about this topic.
I'm 100% here to encourage you on this point alone.
this was so thrilling to read! I can't wait for parts two and three.
Thanks brother! I really appreciate that.
What was it that landed with you?
The parts about not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, with regards to masculinity vs. "toxic masculinity." Anything that's toxic is bad, but toxicity is something that happens to something that wasn't toxic to begin with, so I like the way you (gently) approach this "hot button issue" that seems to instantly end any significant and worthwhile conversation we have in the West, unless it's in private with someone we trust. I like how you keep advocating a different approach to "Raising men" and I'm fully on board.
This is one of the most articulate explanations of where patriarchy went wrong. Masculinity is not toxic. However, toxic masculinity exists. Femininity is not toxic. But toxic femininity exists, too. It’s the distortion and extreme manifestation of normal traits that exist in both men and women which are used to manipulate, control and exploit others. I love how you walk us through what toxic masculinity looks like and why it exists. I look forward to Parts 2 & 3.