Reinventing Masculinity For Greater Happiness & Connection

In a recent FiveThirtyEight poll, 60 percent of men surveyed said society puts pressure on men to behave in a way that is unhealthy or bad. Men account for 80 percent of suicides in the United States, and 3 in 10 men have suffered from depression. Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim say a big part of the problem is a model of masculinity that's become outmoded and even dangerous, to both men and women.

The conventional notion of what it means to be a man--what Adams and Frauenheim call "Confined Masculinity"--traps men in an emotional straitjacket; steers them toward selfishness, misogyny, and violence; and severely limits their possibilities. As an antidote, they propose a new paradigm: Liberating Masculinity. It builds on traditional masculine roles like the protector and provider, expanding men's options to include caring, collaboration, emotional expressivity, an inclusive spirit, and environmental stewardship.

Some of the topics covered in this one:

A better definition of masculinity to better serve men and women

Better ways to show up a man

The top commonalities among great leaders

The future direction of masculinity

Surviving growing up as a male in society

The damage done to young men growing up in the Man Box

About My Esteemed Guest, Ed Frauenheim:

Ed Frauenheim was senior director of content at Great Place to Work--the research organization behind Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. He has written or cowritten articles for Fortune, Inc., and Wired and is the coauthor of three books. Ed Frauenheim has wrestled with what it means to be a man for four decades. In his personal and professional lives. As a young man, an adult, a father. As an observer of the best workplaces in the world. As cofounder of a group trying to reinvent organizations. The traditional male obsessions with winning, with brute strength, with becoming king of the corporate hill haunted Ed for much of his life. But through personal reflection, mindful practices, and plenty of help, he has come to redefine as worthy traits like emotional sensitivity, exuberance, and camaraderie. He’s living a fuller life as a result. Ed has cowritten three other books, including A Great Place to Work for All: Better for Business, Better for People, Better for the World. In that book and other content, Ed has explored how our more-complex, interconnected economy is calling on men to break free of a narrow version of masculinity.

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