TU119: For the Love of Men, Rethinking Masculinity with Liz Plank

It isn’t a war between the genders, it’s a war between those interested in freedom of individual expression and equality, and those wedded to and defending the patriarchal script. “I measure activism based on impact… .” – Liz Plank

In this episode, co-host Sue Marriott speaks with Liz Plank, one of the worlds most powerful and influential voices for gender and policy.

Who is Liz Plank?

Liz Plank is an award-winning journalist and senior producer at Vox Media. Her TedxTalk, How to Be a Man: A Woman’s Guide inspired her first book, For the Love of Men: A New Vision for Mindful Masculinity, where she “offers a smart, insightful, and deeply-researched guide for what we’re all going to do about toxic masculinity. For both women looking to guide the men in their lives and men who want to do better and just don’t know how.”

Mediaite’s Most Influential in New Media

50 Most Influential Women by Marie Claire

Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Media

Episode 119 Show Notes: Why do we need more storytelling around men?

• More progress regarding issues around domestic & sexual violence if men were more involved in the conversation.
• Human rights are not a finite resource and when there is more equality, the better it is for everyone.
• Open the conversation for men to talk about masculinity and what it means to be a man because they do not feel safe doing so.
• Having an empathic conversation about feminism that includes all genders, a movement that benefits the whole society.

Rewriting Gender Roles

• The lack of conversations regarding masculinity between men.
• Following gender roles based on societal pressures and family development.
• Exploring historical and cultural examples of how gender roles change and vary to give men permission to explore their identity.
• A shift in the younger generation being accepting of gender fluidity.

What It Means To Be A Man

• Identifying as a provider when many jobs traditionally done by men are disappearing or moving overseas.
• Starting to have the opportunity to have an identity outside of their career.
• Have both genders shoulder the emotional burden and do the work to heal.

Narcissism & Toxic Masculinity

• There is a higher percentage of narcissism in men.
• Have more female leadership represented in entertainment & media to provide an understanding of female complexity.

Education

• Encouraging curriculum that teaches anti-violence, anti-sexual assault, verbal consent, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal relationships.
• A universal understanding that we all experience similar emotions and social anxiety so we can all advocate for each other.

Liz’s Influence:

• Wanting to measure her activism based on impact.
• Wanting everyone to feel welcome to this conversation on masculinity and help men go through their emotional labor.
• Continue to open the conversation for men of influence to discuss masculinity openly.

Masculinity Influence:

• Brad Pitt speaking openly about masculinity to give others permission to do the same.
• Tim Ferriss expressing that external performance is not where “success” is and inner work is the harder challenge but more important.

Liz’s Recommendations:

The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks

Thomas Page McBee

Wade Davis

Learn about and connect with Liz:

For the Love of Men: A New Vision for Mindful Masculinity

TED Talk How to Be a Man, A Woman’s Guide

Twitter

Instagram

Web Series

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For the Love of Men A New Vision for Mindful Masculinity by Liz Plank