Hey folks! New writing out today. I have a guest post over on Josh’s newsletter (The Cynic’s Guide to Self Improvement). Head over there to read it.
The brief was to write up a take on what I think positive masculinity is as a transgender man. I started and trashed many, many drafts over the last few months.
I kept getting stuck. What’s the point? I can describe exactly what toxic masculinity is, why it’s bad, but where are the valid reasons to convince people to change when it’s so convenient to just not?
Or – when many men think they’re totally doing enough and a good guy and why are you being a problem about this again Robbie?
I’m happy to have finally landed on some sort of answer, and very grateful Josh has lent me his Real Journalist™️ advice platform to help me make it worth caring about for some of you.
Also, I made a bunch of funny muscle guy typing memes to lighten the mood.
With the kindest regards from your token trans queer friend.
Robbie 🕸️
PS. I am considering moving off Substack (because of the nazis, antivaxxers and transphobes) – but am running too many big projects at the same time to do that right now! Please bear with me til’ I can.
Hot damn Robbie, that was so good to read! The whole thing was standout, but this is the bit I've saved to my notes: "Positive masculinity is being able to step back and see where your privilege and power can be used and abused, and to make a choice not to do that. To use that privilege and power to make the world better, rather than to twist it into your service."
Thanks to Josh I found you. Going free at the moment but will sort my budget to pay.