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Our society has some curious norms. On one hand men are pushed by society to be heroes — to go off to war when needed, to step up on the football field, to do the dangerous jobs, to protect their family. And yet, that culturally conditioned heroism is exactly what makes men disposable — when one hero falls, the next in line is asked to step up.
We write a lot about all sorts of variations on this dynamic—from concussions and CTE in football, to PTSD, to the ways men are trained to be both aggressive and brave, to hide their emotions, to “man up” in the face of events that could maim or kill them. Some of our best posts are listed below. We also have weekly calls that talk about these issues LIVE—and you are welcome to join us. Click below to give your email so you can get dial in information. You can come to any one call for free—or join as a Premium Member of The Good Men Project to participate year round. What better way to help support the social change we are trying to create in all these areas?
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RSVP for Weekly Calls on The Disposability of Men
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Concussions, Football and the Disposability of Men
Concussions and other injuries in football are a given. Is it also a given that the men who play the sport will be left to handle the disease—Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy—alone and without the support of the league?
Escape the ‘Act Like a Man’ Box
One of the primary reasons that boys and men gay bash and bully queers is that they need to perform masculinity in order to show the world that they’re in the Box.
Of Ships and Men
Cameron Conaway explores the Human Rights abuses in Chittagong’s notorious shipbreaking yards. Photographs by Pierre Torset.
For the Love of the Game: Football and the Disposability of Men–An Intimate Skirmish
American football is at a crossroads. Will we protect the players or silently ignore the evidence?
How Raising Emotionally Literate Boys Challenges Our Perceptions of Masculinity
Heather Gray challenges us to think about what our sons really need in order to be emotionally literate.
How the Myth that Men Fear Intimacy Contributes to the Disposability of Men and Boys
It’s a myth that only men fear intimacy. Heather Gray points out that dispelling the myth means acknowledging some inconvenient truths.
Is There a Connection Between CTE and Male Violence?
We’re socializing men to be angry and violent, then placing them on the front line of the most disposable positions.
My Path to Becoming a Man Wasn’t as Clear as I had Expected
Learning to “Be a Man” required observation, thought, AND being honest about my feelings.
No, My Son Doesn’t Play Sports … Really, It’s OK!
When a 13-year-old boy who could change the world has to constantly answer why he isn’t interested in sports, our society must re-think how we treat boys.
No One Ever Taught Me How to Be a Man
Until I neared my 40th birthday, I never realized what not having healthy masculine role models was costing me and the women I loved.
Reclaiming Manhood: Detoxifying toxic Masculinity
Dr. NerdLove wonders if we can reclaim the term “being a man” to help us grow in our relationships and in our lives.
The Culture of Shame: Men, Love and Emotional Self-Amputation
Mark Greene talks about the ways in which shame kills men’s courage for living and loving.
The Dream of an Inclusive Masculinity
Jackson Bliss grew up in a world of fixed and simplistic gender roles. Only recently has he understood how complex masculinity truly is.
The Games We Love Are Killing the People We Love
It’s a choice: give up the game or sacrifice lives.
The World of Sports Reveals the World of Masculinity—And It’s Not Always Healthy
From CTE and brain injuries in the football to repetitive arm injuries in baseball, our sports can show us what happens when traditional masculinity takes it too far.
Why Are Violent People Male?
Andrew Smiler considers several reasons why violent people are more likely to be male than female.
Why Men’s Friendships Can Feel Empty
Mark Greene believes men’s avoidance of emotional risk when making friends can often result in friendships that are impersonal and inauthentic.
An Appalachian Tale: Heroin Hurricane
Small-town America isn’t what it used to be.
Bro, I’m Gonna Touch You: The Missing Intimacy Between American Men
Thanks to the Puritans, our cowboy ideals, and our lawsuit-happy culture, it’s no surprise men don’t touch much in the States.
Nothing to Something
POPs The Club: A Poem by Alfonso Manzo Castenda
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RSVP for Weekly Calls on The Disposability of Men
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