A festival of New Masculinity has emerged in numerous London venues, where men with stories discuss the future of manhood
By Maryam Nassif
Men are constantly battling the stereotypes and stigmas passed on by previous generations, ultimately creating a new concept of masculinity.
According to writer Jonathan Wells, being told to "man up" is what can be described as the "most destructive phrase of modern culture". Growing up suffocating under strict gender norms can have a long-term effect on your mental health, as well as your personal development and values.
The idea that men are expected to suppress any feelings of weakness ironically backfires by making them bottle up everything they feel.
Keeping things in doesn't make feelings go away and eventually makes a big leaky mess. The modern version of being a man accepts outbursts of emotions before they become an unhealthy outflow.
Robert Paulson shares how coping with his OCD, ADHD and depression have been challenging because of an internalised toxic masculinity:
"Men battle with mental health differently because we're taught to not express or feel, which eventually makes us numb. There's a pressure to fulfil the characteristics of what it means to be a man and being anxious isn't one of them."
The Book of Man is an online platform which offers a fresh and innovative perspective on manhood. With this new festival they're launching, they hope to destigmatise the way we talk about men and male mental health.
Perhaps the most accurate description for this new and improved version of a man is one that includes vulnerability. The modern man is not afraid to fall, does not adhere to strict gender bias and isn’t reluctant to feel.
The conversation is changing, with trending hashtags like #MenCryToo, almost leading to an emotional revolution.
Read an in-depth feature about male mental health in our March issue
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