The rigidness of expectation on male behavior from our culture is mirrored in the rigidness in the bodies of men. We internalize messages about how we’re supposed to hold ourselves and act, and these messages literally shape our bodies. It can take a lifetime to assess and address the implications of this. When we are held back from expressing our authentic desires, we restrict the flow of our life’s force. When we allow social expectations to limit our behavior, we stifle vital parts of ourselves. This episode identifies areas in which this commonly happens for men and outlines strategies for giving ourselves more freedom.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcasthttps://gentlemanpodcast.org/#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Shame is one of the deepest challenges men face and one of the strongest reinforcing elements defining gender roles in culture. From the moment we are born and continuing on into our lives, we are exposed to shaming by our parents, siblings, peers, romantic partners and coworkers. Shame is so pernicious because it often lurks internalized in our own psyches – we may not even be aware of the original external motive that informed our negative internal dialogues. The amount of restrictions that shame places on men consciously and unconsciously is monumental. Working through shame gives men greater access to the things they often want: success in dating and their careers, and the esteem of their peers. This episode outlines many of the ways in which shame gets instilled in us, and then supplies 6 tools and approaches for working through it.--This episode references a previous episode, "Male Body Dysmorphia - It Probably Affects You". Listen to that here:https://pod.fo/e/1ebd65--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcasthttps://gentlemanpodcast.org/#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Affection is something adult men often struggle to share with each other. We may feel comfortable showing it towards the women in our lives, whether it’s our spouses or kids or other female relatives. But many men, even those who are close in friendship or share familial ties, are loath to share much physical or verbal affection with other men. Many factors go into this, such as a pervasive culture of homophobia, memory of traumatic harm at the hands of other men, and lack of sufficient role modeling in the culture at large. In this episode we explore the challenge and suggest strategies for getting more male affection in your life.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcasthttps://gentlemanpodcast.org/#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

In this episode, we’re honored to bring an interview with Sage Liskey, activist author and founder of Rad Cat Press. His work for the last many years has focused on wellness in many forms. Today’s conversation focuses on men’s wellness, from finding community to being in more direct conversation about changing gender roles. We explore reflections on dating in a contemporary feminist climate and discuss how education could better serve children and young boys. Sage has a wealth of knowledge on wellness that goes all the way down to the genetic level.--Sage Liskey is an Oregon-born author, artist, designer, poet, event organizer, and public speaker. He is the founder of the Rad Cat Press and writes books about uplifting lives and reimagining society. His works include You're A Snarky Darkness, Radical Self-Care, and You Are A Great And Powerful Wizard.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcast#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Men often struggle to grieve. Grief is one of the most basic human impulses and imperatives. Without it, we will always on some level lead tortured or incomplete lives. Women in most cultures are more encouraged to feel and express grief, which helps them to maintain healthy emotional balance. Without this same encouragement and healthy outlet, men can become lonely, alienated and violent. Today’s show discusses the challenges of male grief and suggests some approaches to unlocking it.Also don’t forget to check out previous episode “Boys Don't Cry - How to Work With Feelings” for some useful tips for men wanting to get into grief: https://pod.fo/e/1e457f--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Some would consider violence to be an innate male trait. Statistics would certainly seem to back up this hypothesis. The nature / nurture debate around this and many other topics related to gender continues. Today’s show focuses on the nurture side of the equation. I see a clear pattern of nurture towards boys and men that drives them in the direction of violence. In this episode I explore some of those patterns, and cover aspects of my own personal story related to male violence.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

A lot of discussion is given to the cost of privilege for the underprivileged. Less attention has been given to the ill effects of privilege on the privileged. The assumption is often that men enjoy - and benefit from - male privilege. In today's episode I argue otherwise. The ways are numerous in which male privilege separates men and makes them feel like monsters. Many of the things men most need are obscured from them by the very privilege that is purported to make their lives better. A world without privilege is a better world for men, and a better world for everyone.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Today the topic is male body dysmorphia - a preoccupation with or a belief that a part of the body is wrong or ugly. Men commonly struggle with dysmorphias related to their height, musculature, penis size, hair and other parts of the body. These are conditioned insecurities that rest upon a deep foundation of cultural expectations around what men should be and do. Today we explore these dysmorphias and how we can begin to understand and address them.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Self care is near the top of the list of things men struggle with. We are raised in a culture that tells us we don't need it, and when it is clear that we do need it, we don't know how to do it. From going to the doctor, taking downtime and relaxing, having emotionally supportive conversations with friends – men struggle to do even these basic activities. As a result, men are more prone to negative behaviors and self harming behavior. This episode talks about these challenges and suggests some ways for men to get proactive about self care.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence

Society is flush with the implication that men have to work, or produce something of value, in order to be respected as men. The idea of man as a machine of production has been around long before the industrial revolution – it likely dates back as far as the advent of agrarian culture, and perhaps further. As such, men are raised with the implicit imperative that they must work hard and be successful in order to be worthy. When men lose their livelihood or sense of purpose, it can come as a huge blow to their self esteem.This episode addresses this paradigm and suggests some alternative ways of approaching and living within it. Men whose sense of self-worth comes from a place deeper than how productive they are being – and divorced from any notion of how 'manly' they are – will be happier and more resilient to change.--Follow Gentle Man on other platforms:https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanpodcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQdEk0mgyXDsql7PPyqUQAhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gentlemanpodcastPatreon coming soon!#boys #men #manhood #masculinity #feminism #maleviolence #toxicmasculinity