Some years ago I stood transfixed near the side of a school field watching (at a safe distance) as seemingly fully grown men launched into each other at what I later learnt was the 1st XV rugby trials. It was my first immersive experience of a largely all-male environment and, in my inexperience, I thought these boys had it altogether. They appeared so strong, so confident and in control.

From a safe distance.

The burden of ‘hyper-masculinity’. Photo by Victor Freitas on Pexels.com

Three lies of Masculinity

My years since that day have taught me that this mask of dominance and stoicism is exactly that, a mask. Young boys and men attempting to be what the world expects of them as men while underneath lie all the insecurities and emotions that you would expect from any human. Former NFL player, turned activist Joe Ehrman, explains how males of all…