Let’s ask, what is healed masculinity?

Anita Kapoor

Anita Kapoor is a creative multi-hyphenate who facilitates conversations and gives talks for companies and brands that want to address inclusivity, diversity and equity as well as emotional and mental wellness.

What is modern masculinity? This is a huge question at a time when [the concept of] gender is evolving. But we are still in the process of questioning, breaking down belief systems, addressing emotional wounds, ancestral patterns and re-establishing what masculine (and feminine) really is. As masculine identity has been allowed to arrive at an unnatural position of power, authority and control, we need to maybe reframe this question.

Let’s ask, what is healed masculinity? It is where the action of a man’s self-inquiry is uncloaked of shame and pride and where acceptance of what needs attention within (patterns, ideologies, behaviours, traumas) is compassionately allowed.

For this to happen it takes an acceptance (by men, between men and towards men) that emotional pain happens to them too, and with it a willingness to embark on the experience and to recognise the impact of anger, fear, shame within, and towards others. Healing these discoveries brings with it the joy of self-understanding, the reality of emotional responsibility and self-regulation, healthy boundaries and respectful actions.

When men treat themselves with dignity and respect, a reconnection to compassion and empathy follows, a peacefulness and safety settles, that when experienced within and shared offered outwards, is love.

Sam Lo

Sam Lo is a Singaporean trans-masculine, non-binary artist. They have made a name for themselves in the local creative scene over the past decade, with work