One of the reasons for so much anger to the Gillette ad is that many men are confused about what modern manhood is about, and many men don’t do well with confusion.” We’ve written new scripts for our daughters about strength and leadership, but haven’t written scripts for our sons in this new world. We’re still about 200 years off from full equality at the current rate of change according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, but we’re making some progress. “For our daughters, we have promised a new world. While it’s not uncommon to react to a threat if that’s how you see it, it’s time to have deeper conversations about what’s really happening here.”Ī bigger issue that must be addressed is: what is the role of men in the post movement era? “It’s time to talk about the kinds of men we want our sons to become,” says Gary Barker, President and CEO of Promundo. This defensive, black-and-white thinking is a reaction to a change in the rules and power status. Rather than think, ‘Wow what a powerful moment for us all to play a part in stopping harassment,’ research from shows that many men think women are dangerous. “We’re also seeing this with the #MeToo movement. Brad Johnson, PhD, professor of psychology at the United States Naval Academy, Faculty Associate at Johns Hopkins University, and co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women. “The profound defensive reaction from some guys to the ad means there needs to be more thoughtful reflection: Just because an ad states some things are wrong with traditional masculinity doesn’t translate into ‘all men are bad,’” says W. Rather, the focus of the ad was about how adhering to some traditional stereotypes of masculinity can be harmful, and called for men to break free and be better. It’s not saying because you are a man, your masculinity is toxic.” The ad was not communicating that all men are this way, but that’s the way some people interpreted it. “The fact is that harmful stereotypes do exist about what it means to be masculine, focusing on power dynamics, domination of other men, subjugation of women, violence and aggression. Smith, PhD, professor of sociology at the United States Naval War College and co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women. “Gillette’s ad is an aspirational message about believing in the best in men, and to be more fully ourselves,” says David G.

The will to change men masculinity