Category: Uncategorized

“I’m not looking for a male role figure for my children – is that wrong?” The answer to this headline in a recent article in the British press is a resounding yes. I have blogged several times about the impact of being unfathered that needs to be repeated with Father’s Day fast approaching.  It is…

The news cycle is dominated by stories of bad behavior by men.  The “Me -Too” movement has exposed countless examples of sexual abuse and harassment by men especially by men in powerful positions. It has galvanized women to become more involved in politics and to add new energy to gender equality issues – equal pay,…

I have come to the conclusion that a belief that is embodied in the American psyche that has harmed all of us, especially men, is the mythology of “rugged individualism.”  Rugged individualism, in the context of U.S. history, is a philosophy emphasizing individual self-reliance, personal liberty, and the belief that individuals can succeed on their own…

What About Men is the title of a new book by a noted feminist Caitlin Moran who was interviewed in a recent Time Magazine Q&A about her book. My first reaction was, why do we need another book by a women discussing masculinity?  I am not opposed to women writing about the broader issues of…

Paul Simon wrote and performed a song entitled “Wristband.” The song begins rather humorously describing a musician on a break who leaves the venue to smoke and check email.  He hears the stage door lock behind him and he realizes that to get back in he has to go the front door. Standing at the…

Uncertainty and ambiguity are stressful for individuals, markets and businesses.  The ability to tolerate the angst of uncertainty for individuals appears to be related to one’s hard wired personality.  Those who see the world as either black or white do not do as well with ambiguity as those who recognize that life is actually filled…

I have tried to avoid politics in my blog and will continue to do so. However, there is a connection between our current political climate and how we define the best of masculinity. Several individuals in the current administration and their supporters have pointed to a need to inject more male energy in our government…

In my last blog I mentioned the importance of the media highlighting men who demonstrate the best of masculinity. These men serve as important role models for boys and younger men who are seeking the answer to the question, “What is a “good man?”  Watching Jimmy Carter’s funeral and the media coverage of his lifetime…

In the past I have often written about how men are portrayed in television advertisements. The latest that I found offensive include the following: There are probably more examples of men being jerks and needing women to correct or fix what they have done or are doing incorrectly. What escapes me is the motive of the…

In her 2012 book, “The End of Men,” Hanna Rosin described a modern American dynamic between archetypes that she called “Plastic Woman” and “Cardboard Man.” Twelve years later these comic book characters that represented American women who made miraculous social progress in the 20th century and American men who stalled out still rings true. If…