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A Revival For The Evolved Man: Naked Revival As A Blueprint For Modern Masculinity Completes Over $600k SAFE Investment
A Revival For The Evolved Man: Naked Revival As A Blueprint For Modern Masculinity Completes Over $600k SAFE Investment

Int'l Business Times

time01-08-2025

  • Business
  • Int'l Business Times

A Revival For The Evolved Man: Naked Revival As A Blueprint For Modern Masculinity Completes Over $600k SAFE Investment

The modern man has changed. No longer content with the bare minimum, today's male consumers are invested in their evolution. This movement is vividly visible on social media. According to a 2025 study by Movember Institute of Men's Health, of over 3,000 young men aged 16 to 25 across the UK, US, and Australia, 63% regularly engage with "men and masculinity" influencers. They pursue improved health, optimized performance, restorative sleep, balanced nutrition, and longevity. Moreover, they think more holistically, live more intentionally, and purchase more consciously. Naked Revival , a lifestyle-driven wellness brand, offers products and a philosophy that resonates with men seeking alignment. The brand's emergence reflects the personal evolution of founder Joel Primus and his renewed approach to building not just a business but a movement. Naked Revival has achieved another milestone by signing a Letter of Intent with HAW Capital 2 Corp, which will result in the brand becoming the main business of the combined company. This agreement signals to the investor community that the brand is one step closer to a launch that marks the evolution of what could be seen as the second act of the founder's original vision. Momentum continues to build behind the scenes with a $607,500 bridge financing round serving as preparation for the brand's intended public listing. Investor and consumer trust is expected, as it rests upon a strong foundation: before Naked Revival, there was Naked, the original brand that put Primus on the map. Launched in 2009 after he discovered an incredibly soft fabric during a sourcing trip to Peru, Naked was born from his dual background in fashion and athletics. As a former competitive middle-distance runner, Primus understood the need for high-performance apparel that didn't compromise on comfort or style. His goal was to create underwear so light and form-fitting that it felt like wearing nothing at all. A pitch on CBC's Dragons' Den sparked early buzz. From there, Naked took off, grabbing shelf space in major retailers such as Holt Renfrew and Nordstrom and gaining a following among professional athletes, tastemakers, and high-performance men who understood the difference real quality could make. The innovative brand naturally evolved. Naked went public and was listed on the NASDAQ , a significant milestone. Not long after, it unexpectedly became part of a broader cultural moment, caught up in the meme-stock frenzy of early 2021. Naked Brand Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKD) surged during the rally, with its market capitalization peaking at approximately $682 million by the end of 2022. But as the market cooled and the brand exited the underwear category through a merger, Naked disappeared. The fanbase, however, did not. Customer emails kept coming in, asking if Naked would ever return. One message in particular struck Joel: "We were at an all-day event in downtown Vancouver. My husband was uncomfortable and had to buy new underwear. He came back with a pair of Naked and couldn't stop talking about them, how incredible they felt. Later, I took an hour-long bus ride just to get him another pair for Christmas. But then our dog chewed them. Even then, we agreed: still worth it. Years later, I sewed them myself just to give them back to him. That's how much he loved them." For Joel, that was a moment of clarity. "When someone's willing to sew your product to bring joy to their loved one, that means something," he says. "It reminded me of why we started in the first place." That message was enough to pull him back into the fold. After years of retreat, living on a farm, and making documentaries, Joel knew the time was right to answer the call. Now, Naked Revival serves as a complete reimagination. The brand begins again with underwear, but it does so within a much larger framework. Future phases include functional skincare products and supplements designed to support mental clarity, energy, and longevity. More than that, Naked Revival will serve as a cultural hub for men, enabling engagement with emotional intelligence, spiritual grounding, and intentional living, for both those presently practicing and those who aspire to do so. The emergence of Naked Revival reflects broader cultural and economic shifts. In 2023, the men's health and wellness market was valued at $1.27 trillion. It's projected to reach $2.57 trillion by 2029. Naked Revival believes this shift was driven by rising interest in fitness recovery, mindfulness, longevity-focused nutrition, skincare, and hormone optimization. Even the men's underwear segment has grown into a competitive global market. It's a space that the original Naked helped shape in its early days, setting new standards for quality. The rise of high-quality, function-driven garments illustrates more than a desire for better fabric. It signifies a profound cultural shift, where men are no longer embarrassed to care. Naked Revival As this new male archetype takes shape—mindful, intentional, and health-oriented—Naked Revival walks alongside them. The brand was built on the premise that self-care is a responsibility. The rituals and routines usually dismissed as superficial are sacred. From morning habits to nightly resets, Naked Revival's offerings intend to integrate into a man's pursuit of presence, power, and peace. This renewed philosophy laid the foundation for a new chapter, defined by resilience, long-term vision, and deep consumer insight. Backed by lessons from Naked's original rise and reinvention, Primus is focused on building something with even greater meaning and impact with Naked Revival. Now, with Naked Revival having recently closed a $607,500 bridge financing round, backed by a group of insider investors and early believers, the company is one step closer to its intended public listing through a qualifying transaction with HAW Capital 2 Corp. The capital will fuel initial product runs, fund additional development of upcoming wellness SKUs, and lay the groundwork for broader brand rollouts. With this, the brand edges closer to the market, with momentum building behind the scenes. A soft launch is set for the fourth quarter, with the initial release of Naked Revival's premium men's underwear. With an intended public listing on the horizon, Naked Revival is set to have the flexibility to drive its next phase of growth and expansion. Just as importantly, the platform offers an opportunity to reconnect with and welcome back the community that stood with the brand from the beginning; those who believed in a company that stands for more than just products, but for purpose, values, and vision. "We want men to become more than just optimized machines," says Primus. "Yes, take care of your body. Eat well, sleep better, train harder. But also learn to love yourself. Become a better partner, a better father, a better friend. Naked Revival isn't only a brand for the physical. It's a brand for the soul."

This area in Hamilton has Ontario's worst rate of men dying too young
This area in Hamilton has Ontario's worst rate of men dying too young

Hamilton Spectator

time30-06-2025

  • Health
  • Hamilton Spectator

This area in Hamilton has Ontario's worst rate of men dying too young

Hamilton Centre was found to have Ontario's highest rate of men dying before the age of 75 in a report highlighting gender gaps in health. The riding that covers a large swath of the lower city also had one of the worst rates in Canada, coming in seventh for men dying too young from mostly preventable causes, according to the report published by the Movember Institute of Men's Health in June. It includes 339 of Canada's 343 electoral districts and 120 of the 122 federal ridings in Ontario. 'Where you live in Canada really determines how long men will live,' said Catherine Corriveau, director of policy and advocacy for the charity Movember Canada. 'Geography and health are very closely linked.' A big reason for the health disparities between neighbourhoods is a cluster of socioeconomic factors including income, concludes the report that used data from the 2021 census. Hamilton Centre was found in the report to have Ontario's third highest prevalence of low income among men at 18 per cent, and the highest premature death rate at 783.7 per 100,000 population. In contrast, Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North had among the country's lowest proportion of low-income men at just under five per cent, and one of the smallest premature death rates at 254 per 100,000. 'We see that link almost systematically across the country,' Corriveau said. 'There's this series of factors that come into play.' The factors in the 10 areas of Canada with the highest premature mortality rates for men included populations that were younger, socio-economically disadvantaged with greater levels of income inequality and more likely to report an Indigenous identity. Hamilton Centre fits this description to a T. The riding that stretches from Highway 403 to Parkdale Avenue and the escarpment to Hamilton Harbour has an average age of 39.9 for men — the lowest of all area ridings. It was also found in the report to have a larger Indigenous population compared to much of the rest of the province, ranking 21st in Ontario. Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations also ranked high for many of these factors — especially a larger Indigenous population — and had a high premature death rate, finishing 38th in Canada and 12th in Ontario. 'The fact that Indigenous men have the worst health outcomes of any group in Canada is well known but poorly addressed,' stated the report. 'When it comes to the data, Indigenous men are dying younger than non-Indigenous men and living longer with debilitating illness.' The Movember findings for Hamilton mirror a community health status report in November by public health that found residents of the city's lowest-income neighbourhoods were far more likely to die before the age of 75 than those who live in the wealthiest parts of the city. The report also reinforces that there has been little to no improvement since The Spectator's groundbreaking Code Red series was published in 2010, uncovering a nearly 21-year gap in life expectancy between Hamilton's low- and high-income neighbourhoods. 'Disadvantaged populations concentrate in specific areas, creating congregations of poor health outcomes that manifest in measurable health disparities between communities,' stated the Movember report. 'The prevalence of chronic illness and multimorbidity increases with socioeconomic disadvantage with men who experience financial hardship being less likely to access health care.' The report calls for a national men's health strategy to address the mostly preventable deaths of men before the age of 75 that numbered almost 75,000 in Canada in 2023. Compared to women, the report says men die prematurely 12 per cent more often from cancers and 135 per cent more often from coronary heart disease, which are the two leading causes of early death. Fatal accidents occur 153 per cent more often in men, which the report attributes to higher exposure to more dangerous occupations and riskier activities. Men account for 72 per cent of opioid overdose deaths and are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. They are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and are less likely to eat fruit and vegetables. One of the key goals of the strategy is to increase low levels of health literacy among men that lead to less uptake of health screenings and preventive care and more hospitalizations and use of emergency rooms. 'Women's relationships with health and health care are often established during adolescence, and in many cases built around their reproductive and sexual health needs,' the report stated. 'Men, in contrast, tend to be estranged from health care, and their health literacy is often underdeveloped.' The report points to men's health strategies that have made a difference in Ireland, Brazil, Australia, Mongolia and South Africa. The United Kingdom is expected to add one in England this year and there is already a strategy in Quebec, which the report found to have the lowest premature death rate for men of all of the provinces. 'Men's health requires urgent attention,' stated the report. 'There is much to be done to create tailored health care services and system efficiencies to ensure men do not slip through the cracks.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? 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Why 'Looksmaxxing' Is Putting Teen Boys at Risk
Why 'Looksmaxxing' Is Putting Teen Boys at Risk

Yahoo

time24-06-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Why 'Looksmaxxing' Is Putting Teen Boys at Risk

In the past, adolescent boys used to get a break from unhealthy messages about the male body. While men of a certain musculature have always been the chosen hero of movies and TV shows, at least when the movie ended, boys returned to a reality filled with normal looking bodies. Now that more than a third of American children report using social media 'almost constantly,' boys don't get a break anymore. Social media content about hyper-masculine male bodies has become such an incessant barrage in boys' lives that it has been given a name: "looksmaxxing." Under this strict ideology, little boys are no longer allowed to look like little boys, they are expected to be fifteen-year-olds with Cillian Murphy's jawline, Vin Diesel's biceps, Channing Tatum's torso, and Jason Momoa's height. 'There is a real lack of healthy narratives around masculinity, especially for young men,' Krista Fisher, a research fellow at the Movember Institute of Men's Health, tells Parents. These biologically impossible male beauty standards for adolescent boys have far reaching impacts on their mental and physical wellbeing. Here's what parents need to know about looksmaxxing, and how best to support their sons as they navigate the pressure to look perfect. "Looksmaxxing" centers around a belief that real men must have a specific set of physical traits: a square jaw, deep set almond shaped eyes also known as 'hunter eyes,' a tall stature ideally between 6'1' to 6' 4', a muscular physique, a Hollywood-level hair style, and clear, acne-free skin. A lot of "looksmaxxing" content emphasizes the importance of 'optimizing' puberty, claiming that boys have the most influence over their appearance during this time of biological growth. Making progress towards these idealized traits (known as 'ascension') helps to increase boys' 'sexual market value' or SMV, which refers to the likelihood that women will find them attractive. There are also more specific sub-niches nested within "looksmaxxing." These include "auramaxxing" (strategies to improve social standing), "smellmaxxing" (using cologne to attract women), "moneymaxxing" (ways to make money to attract women), "dickmaxxing" (strategies to enhance the length or girth of the penis), and "starvemaxxing" (restricting diet to lose weight). The origin of the term "looksmaxxing" came from online incel (involuntarily celibate) or 'redpill' communities and their skewed view of modern gender dynamics. Incels self-identify as unattractive and unsuccessful in romantic relationships. They also believe that women romantically manipulate men for financial and social gain, and are only interested in dating a small subset of men who are abnormally attractive.A 2025 study found that 60% of young men between the ages of 16-25 regularly consume content from at least one masculinity influencer, which means a majority of boys are exposed to and engaging with this content to some level. Their study also highlighted that YouTube and TikTok in particular have been found to push increasingly extreme content like looksmaxxing to boys' feeds. As a result, it is possible boys feel that everyone around them is engaging in looksmaxxing practices, making them feel pressured to follow today's narrow gender norms around masculinity require boys to have a James Bond-esque sex appeal, meaning that men need women to find them attractive in order to be considered a real man. As a result, incels direct blame and hatred towards women for emasculating them by not finding them attractive. Looksmaxxing was born out of the idea that young men need to increase or 'maximize' their physical appearance to be attractive to women and respected as a man by their peers. But now that the term has gone viral on mainstream social media platforms, many boys may be unaware of the misogynistic origins of the term. Fisher points out that young boys seem to gravitate towards this content because it taps into an unmet need for boys. They have questions about their bodies, romantic relationships, and how to operate in the world as young men. In the absence of anywhere else to go, especially offline, masculinity influencers on social media and looksmaxxing forums have given boys the anonymity to ask hard or embarrassing questions, a feeling of community with likeminded peers, and a constant stream of advice from confident older boys who claim to have successfully changed their appearance. How boys go about manipulating their appearance can vary from simple measures—known as "softmaxxing" to more extreme strategies, or "hardmaxxing." "Softmaxxing" includes non-surgical approaches like eating a high protein diet and eliminating junk food, exercising, showering regularly, daily skin care, staying attentive to hydration, practicing good posture, updating wardrobes, getting regular haircuts, engaging in regular hair styling techniques, teeth whitening, shaving off their eyelashes, taping their mouth shut at night, using Volufiline and other products that promote temporary lip plumping, and sleeping on their back to promote 'face symmetry'. One of the most well known "softmaxxing" techniques is a tongue exercise called "mewing" that is promoted on social media by UK-based orthodontist Mike Mew. He claims this tongue exercise can create 'facial improvements' including aligning the teeth, accentuating cheekbones, sharpening jawlines, straightening the nose naturally, diminishing wrinkles, and improving airways. Another "softmaxxing" technique growing in popularity is the use of fitness chewing gum, which is engineered to be extra hard to chew as a way to exercise the jaw and create a more prominent jawline. Conversely, "hardmaxxing" includes extreme techniques like using human growth hormones, steroids, plastic surgery, or "brotox" (botox for men). "Looksmaxxing" content on TikTok, YouTube, and online forums throw around a head spinning amount of plastic surgery recommendations—specifically for boys and men, including jaw surgery, chin extensions, fat grafting, buccal fat removal, nose jobs, ear jobs, liposuction, lip lifts, shoulder and limb lengthening surgeries, and surgeries that reshape the outer corners of the eyes and bones around the eye sockets. Moreover, a concept called "bonesmashing" encourages boys to break their own jaw and facial bones with a hammer or other hard object, due to a belief that the bones will grow back stronger and more defined. This term was originally coined as a joke in incel forums, but as "looksmaxxing" has become more mainstream it seems that that nuance may have been lost. In online forums dedicated to "looksmaxxing," boys as young as thirteen are claiming to use the technique. To some degree it is understandable why impressionable boys are so quick to jump on the "looksmaxxing" bandwagon. Masculinity influencers throw around medical terminology and cite scientific studies with the confidence and authority of a licensed doctor. Real medical professionals, however, seem to be generally unanimous in the ineffective and dangerous nature of some of these practices. Both the British Orthodontic Society and the American Association of Orthodontists state that there is no scientific evidence to support mewing, and the latter also claimed the practice could lead to tooth alignment disruption, bite problems, and speech issues. It is also worth noting that the General Dental Council suspended Mike Mew's license last year for malpractice. The American Dental Association, meanwhile, announced that fitness chewing gum can lead to inflammation and jaw pain, and that some of these gums contain caffeine and vitamin B5, which can act as a laxative in high doses. Dentists have also warned that using this gum may lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. And while recommendations to take growth hormone may be rampant on "looksmaxxing" forums Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco, urges caution. He says that growth hormone is meant to be used to address specific medical conditions like genetic disorders or a medically verified growth hormone deficiency, and should only ever be used under the supervision of a medical professional. 'Misusing growth hormone can lead to serious side effects, including joint pain, headaches, and insulin resistance, so close medical monitoring is essential,' he says. Even some of the over-the-counter supplements and protein powders that are widely recommended by masculinity influencers and "looksmaxxers" can have negative health effects. Katie Hurley, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and senior clinical advisor for The Jed Foundation, encourages parents to read the labels of any supplements or protein powders their sons are currently using or interested in trying. She warns that some of these products have been found to affect moods. The impact on physical health is just the tip of the iceberg. The effect of "looksmaxxing" on boys' mental health and well being can be far more destructive. A common practice in "looksmaxxing" forums, like and r/Mewing, is for young teens and tweens to post detailed measurements of their bodies and attach multiple photographs of every angle of their face and bodies to encourage others to rate their sexual market value and offer recommendations on how to enhance their appearance. The rating scale on these forums has become fairly standardized. One user explained the scale as 1-3 being 'subhuman,' 4 is a 'low tier normie', 5 is a 'mid tier normie', 6 is a 'high tier normie,' 7 is a 'Chad-lite,' 8 is a 'Chad,' and 9 is an 'Adam' or 'Slayer.' In incel culture, a 'Chad' is a stereotypically handsome man and an 'Adam' is the peak of ideal male attractiveness. Ratings and recommendations come from completely anonymous users and range from gentle and encouraging to cruel and dangerous. In extreme cases, recommendations include references to 'ropemaxxing' which means that a boy is so hopelessly unattractive that he may as well take his own life because he will never be able to achieve an acceptable level of masculinity. For boys who may find this level of vulnerability intimidating there are now apps like Umax and LooksmaxxingGPT where teens can upload photos of themselves and receive AI-generated ratings and recommendations. Some of these apps provide ratings not just on overall looks or potential for improvement but go so far as to provide a 'masculinity' score based on uploaded photos."Since 2002, there's been over a 400% increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders in boys."It's obvious how these ratings and recommendations systems can negatively impact a boy's mental health. But even if they are not engaging with the content to this level, research is finding this hypermasculine body content and similar social media content can still negatively affect teen mental health. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General said the risk of anxiety and depression doubles in adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media. And in the same statement, almost half of adolescents stated that social media makes them feel worse about their bodies. At the time, the average for this age group was at 4.8 hours a day—only on social media platforms. More recent studies show that screen usage has only grown. One 2025 survey revealed that the average American stares at a screen for almost 7 hours per day. Nagata also pointed to studies that found that the more time boys spend on Instagram, the more likely they are to engage in disordered eating, be dissatisfied with their own appearance (and their muscles, in particular), and the more likely they are to take performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids. 'Since 2002, there's been over a 400% increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders in boys,' he says. Nagata clarifies that while eating disorders in boys can sometimes look like anorexia, it has become more common for boys to develop bigorexia, or muscle dysmorphia, an obsession with developing bigger muscles. This is all supported by the new research study that found that young men who engage with masculinity influencers reported high levels of psychological distress, including high rates of worthlessness, nervousness, and sadness compared to boys not engaging with the content. Social media has seeped into so much of the childhood experience and how children relate to each other that it can be hard to identify when a child's behavior or mindset has crossed into unhealthy territory. Hurley says the best way for parents to monitor social media's impact on their child's life is to keep a monthly log of their activity level, routines, habits, and behaviors, which she explains will help parents identify if and when signs of negative patterns begin to form. Having conversations with boys about "looksmaxxing" content and how they perceive their own bodies in relation to others can also be helpful. But Hurley is aware that some boys may find it difficult to open up about these topics. In those cases, she's provided some ideas to help parents manage these tricky discussions: Take care of yourself first. It's important to approach these conversations calmly. Find a way to take care of yourself before taking on the conversation to ensure you are able to create a space where your son feels able to share his experiences. Combine these conversations with activities. Try kicking off a conversation while taking a walk, playing a board game, or doing house chores together. The act of being in motion acts as a 'tension release' which can make it easier for boys to talk about hard things. Ask open ended questions. Approaching your son with curiosity and open ended questions can help him feel more encouraged to opening up. For instance, you can ask: "What is it like to be a teenage boy in today's world?" or "I noticed you seem to like to eat the same things every day. Can you tell me more about that?" or "What's new on TikTok that you're interested in? Can you share with me some of your favorite TikTokers? I'm curious to see what you like." Create a strengths board. Sit with your son and create a list of things he's good at. Write it down on a large board and put it in a place that is visible to him every day. As he learns new things, you can update the board together. A strengths board can serve as a healthy counterbalance for teens on social media platforms that are designed to feed off teen insecurities. Validate their experience. If they are worried about being short, for example, ask them to tell you more about what it feels like to be short among tall boys. After listening, validate their experience by saying something like, 'That does sound hard.' Incorporate male voices. Ask fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older brothers, or close adult male friends to share their experiences and mindsets about their growing bodies during adolescence. Fact check together. Equip your son with facts to help him feel more secure when faced with "looksmaxxing" content. When did the men in your family hit their growth spurts? At what age did his favorite athletes begin getting taller? What athletes or other impactful men are not tall but are still respected for their contributions? Show him that not all important male figures fit conventional beauty standards. If you're wondering when to reach out for help, Hurley says it never hurts to check in with your child's pediatrician or therapist. 'It's always a good time to ask somebody if you feel like you're out of your depth and you don't know how to assess the situation,' she concerns about their appearance become an obsession or preoccupation. Teens shouldn't be exercising 5-6 hours a day or eating very restrictive diets. If they experience noticeable weight loss in a short amount of time or extreme fatigue that lasts more than two weeks. If their behaviors impact school work or they begin retreating from their social lives, or if you're seeing their quality of life negatively impacted in other ways. If your son is suddenly unable to sit still and begins to seem jittery, in teens without ADHD this can be a sign of steroid or creatine use. Remember: Depression in teenage boys does not look like crying and sadness. More often, it tends to look like intense anger and are growing up in an evolving digital world that can be overwhelming for parents and children alike. But while it may look different today, industries profiting of teen's body insecurities is nothing new. When we understand what's happening behind phenomena like "looksmaxxing," and understand that boys need safe offline spaces to talk about their bodies and their place in this world, we will also have the tools to start advocating for and supporting boys in ways that help them grow into healthy adults. While parents may never be able to entirely free their sons from the grip that social media has on their childhoods, we can find ways—however small—to give them a break from the social media deluge and just let them be boys again. Read the original article on Parents

Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests
Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests

Yahoo

time14-06-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests

About 44 per cent of men living in Canada die prematurely, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health. The report defines premature mortality as deaths in men before age 75. The deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease, accidents, suicide and the opioid crisis include some causes that might have been prevented through vaccinations, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or avoiding injuries. In 2023, almost 75,000 males died prematurely, according to Statistics Canada. "We're here because too many men are dying too young from largely preventable causes," Catherine Corriveau of Movember Canada said at a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday. Suicide was the fourth leading cause of premature death in males after cancer, coronary heart disease and accidents. Three in four of the deaths by suicide in Canada were men, Corriveau said. While the report looks at the health needs of men overall, the group noted those statistics were much worse for Indigenous men or men living in vulnerable communities. Stigma, gender bias and low health literacy are long-standing barriers that often prevent men from seeking care until it's too late, the report's authors said. The impact extends to families, communities and the economy. Fathers and sons learn together Niigaan Sinclair, a co-author of the report and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said one solution is to have fathers and sons learn together. He gave an example during a recent fathers' weekend where he spoke and saw boys and men who grew up without fathers or uncles learning skills like how to tie their shoes, do a puzzle or build a lodge together. "That young man who has become a father, he too didn't learn that because he wasn't able to, because many of those ceremonies in his community were gutted and removed," said Sinclair, who is also the son of the late Senator Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous person appointed as a judge in Manitoba and chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. "Making mistakes together, learning humility together, learning to laugh together at themselves, but then ultimately making something together that they could be proud of. That's truly what I think a goal would be for any program that would teach healthy Indigenous masculinity or Indigenous manhood." WATCH | Black men discuss Black masculinity, dating and fatherhood: Those lessons could help men avoid outcomes like jail, hospitalization or premature death, Sinclair said, while also benefiting families and their communities. The report also suggests embracing the power of sport to promote health. Experiences with seeking help The report's authors also analyzed national mortality trends. Previously, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said deaths from preventable causes were twice that for men than women. The Movember report included a nationally representative poll of more than 1,500 men on their experiences engaging with primary care. Only about 48 per cent of respondents said they felt actively listened to during a first health-care interaction. "If they don't feel listened to and if they don't feel cared for, they might not show up again," Corriveau said. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, said he was surprised by that finding. "It reflects that health-care providers need to listen more empathetically," said Agyapong, who was not involved in the report and welcomed the authors' multi-pronged approach to mental health that isn't one-size-fits-all. "It's always very difficult for men to reach out and seek help," Agyapong said. Prioritize mental health literacy When men do seek help, Agyapong said, it's important that health-care providers are sensitive and focus on the main concern that brought the person in off the bat, instead of launching into a checklist of background questions. Agyapong said schools and workplaces should prioritize mental health literacy, providing men with resources to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and know they are treatable with medications and psychological approaches. Mental health promotion for men at risk will lead to more people seeking healthcare such as psychological help earlier on when they are distressed rather than trying to manage themselves or turning to alcohol and drugs, which can be risk factors themselves, Agyapong said. Corriveau said Canada has an opportunity to address the challenges of health promotion by developing a national men's health strategy to respond to their health-care needs. Australia and the U.K. have already done so. If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:

Is Feminism Losing With Young Men? Large Majority Say Men Should Be on Top
Is Feminism Losing With Young Men? Large Majority Say Men Should Be on Top

Newsweek

time12-06-2025

  • General
  • Newsweek

Is Feminism Losing With Young Men? Large Majority Say Men Should Be on Top

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Young men are rejecting the ideals of feminism, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health. In a survey of more than 3,000 men aged 16 to 25, the vast majority held beliefs centered around traditional gender roles. Roughly 77 percent said men should hold leadership positions, and 83 percent agreed that men should be providers, sparking questions about how men and women will continue to build relationships with each other in the modern age. Why It Matters While traditional gender roles have been the standard for years, more women are outpacing men when it comes to higher education, and economic necessity is no longer driving marriages. In 1995, young men and women were equally likely to hold a bachelor's degree at 25 percent each, according to Pew Research. As of last year, however, 47 percent of U.S. women ages 25 to 34 have a bachelor's degree, while only 37 percent of men did. These shifting dynamics have raised questions about the roles of men and women in the workforce, as well as in their homes and relationships, but young men appear to be holding onto traditional values despite falling behind economically. A 14-year-old boy looks at a iPhone screen on May 26, 2025 in Penzance, England. A 14-year-old boy looks at a iPhone screen on May 26, 2025 in Penzance, To Know The majority of young men believe men should be the ones in leadership positions and acting as providers, but they also have concerns over men displaying emotions. Roughly 77 percent in the survey said men who can't control their emotions are a threat to others, and 61 percent believed men should solve problems alone. However, all of these beliefs were much more common among young men who follow male influencers than among non-followers. The relationship between young men and feminism has shifted notably in recent years, with evidence suggesting increasing skepticism and ambivalence among Gen Z males. Researchers and educators have observed a pronounced gender divide on issues of equality and identity, reflecting broader social trends and political polarization. Surveys indicate that fewer young men today identify as feminists compared to young women and previous generations of men. Underlying this divide are perceptions that the advancements of feminism have not resolved, or may even have exacerbated, the challenges faced by boys and young men. Roughly 60 percent of all young men in the U.S. engage with mainstream masculinity influencers and content, which potentially leads to warped ideas of men and women and their own roles when it comes to masculinity. The "manosphere" notably includes social media influencers who often promote anti-feminist and misogynistic rhetoric. These communities can draw in young men who feel alienated or marginalized, providing them with a sense of identity and validation for grievances centered around romantic rejection, economic difficulty, and social isolation. Social media algorithms have amplified the reach of these spaces, making exposure to extreme ideological content more frequent and forming a part of young men's digital environments. Other polling from the Survey Center on American Life shows just 43 percent of Gen Z men identify as feminists compared to 61 percent of Gen Z women. This divide is compounded by the fact that nearly half of Gen Z men now say they face discrimination for being male, up significantly from previous years. In the Movember survey, young men, many of whom followed these types of male influencers, had high rates of worthlessness (26 percent), nervousness (27 percent) and sadness (27 percent). They were also likely to have negative views toward women, with 70 percent saying women "have it easier" than men and roughly 50 percent saying feminism is used to "keep men down." Repeating a typical manosphere influencer rhetoric, 31 percent of young men in the U.S. said, "High-value men get more matches." "This is a wake-up call," said Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember, in the report. "We can't ignore the role online content plays in shaping how young men see themselves, others, and the world. They deserve to be part of the solution—not just the subject of the debate." What People Are Saying Brian Heilman, Senior Research Fellow at Movember, said in the report: "Young men are telling us they want clear, approachable conversations about what it means to be a man today. We need to have the courage to meet them where they are, engage in those conversations, and help them build healthy and sociable aspirations for their lives." Hallie Kritsas, a licensed mental health counselor with Thriveworks, told Newsweek: "Young men are rejecting feminism because of confusion, fear, and how they may feel threatened due to cultural implications if women want partnership versus something like patriarchy. Further, men are told both explicitly and subtly that being vulnerable or feminine makes them weak or less masculine. This can all lead to things like anxiety, depression, and relationship issues." What Happens Next The polarization around feminism and the growing influence of online anti-feminist circles have had tangible effects on relationships, political alignment, and discourse within schools and universities. "If men continue to reject this equality, we can assume that there will be more division," Kritsas said. "The hope is that men continue to lean into things like therapy and emotionally balanced relationships. And that we can normalize emotional depth and equality within relationships."

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