UNMASKING

In Edwards’ study, personal interviews explore the insecurities men hide behind masks of rigid masculinity.

The author observes that boys are told to “be tough” and “don’t cry.” In college, exemplifying the hard-partying, sexually active lifestyle depicted in films like 1978’s Animal House is a common norm for males, scorning anything feminine or nerdy. Post-college, manhood becomes a stoic race to provide, proving themselves through competition and control in their careers. Ten participants, all college students from a range of backgrounds—some gay, some people of color, some with experience of abuse, sexual violence, and homelessness—were interviewed over a period of 15 years, discussing how these expectations have forced them to don masks of a traditional, toxic masculinity that represses emotions and often leads to destructive behavior toward themselves and others—behavior often rooted in racism, homophobia, and misogyny. Edwards asserts that the inherent privilege that men benefit from also obfuscates and magnifies their silent pain and isolation. The author argues that, by developing a consciousness of these masks, learning from women, trans, and non-binary individuals about gender, and engaging with both the negative even positive aspects of these forced identities, new avenues of self-awareness can lead to a more authentic masculinity—one based in integrity, vulnerability, and accountability. The self-designated “eleventh participant,” Edwards shares his own experiences, making the book feel personal, and the tone throughout is compassionate and nonjudgmental. The text includes extensive references to other sources, simple graphs and visual aids, and straightforwardly defined tools for approaching new ideas about gender. The study’s sample size is regrettably modest, and the omission of non-college-educated men seems like a missed opportunity. Though men are the target audience, all genders seeking a better understanding of the effects of these societal expectations will find probing and insightful analysis here.

A small research study offers big tools for understanding and transform traditional ideas of masculinity.