MASKulinity Podcast

In the season 1 finale of MASKulinity, Samantha and Remoy go “one-on-one” to get to the core of some of the toughest issues plaguing masculinity. First, Samantha perceptively discerns the difference between enjoying being desired and simply being objectified. Next, Remoy and Samantha try to make sense of the policing of women’s sexuality. They explore the predicament of the “nice guy.” Samantha and Remoy then speak about the intersections within racism and privilege and how seeing those intersections is everyone’s responsibility. Finally, they recap their first season, give shoutouts and tell us what’s on the horizon for season 2 of MASKulinity.

South Bronx native, Christopher Saunders, joins Samantha and Remoy to shed some light on how masculinity has affected the 'hood. Saunders shares some eye-opening stories from his childhood growing up in the South Bronx. Saunders goes on to uncover the way masculinity is tied to survival and not just for men but for everyone in the 'hood. Saunders also speaks to how the LGBTQ community is prevalent in the 'hood, but how masculinity seeks to silence their voice. Finally, Saunders tells the story of how when driving a block away from Times Square, he was pulled over and arrested and how that shaped his current journey into the criminal justice system.

With the Harvey Weinstein scandal looming, Samantha and Remoy take the opportunity to look at the overarching power of Hollywood. First, Remoy illustrates how TV and Movies taught him to take a kiss from a woman. Next, Samantha speaks to the dehumanizing power of the cinematic “male gaze.” Lastly, both Samantha and Remoy dive into the Weinstein story and seek out opportunities for men to be better accountable to one another.

West Texas pastor, David Ritchie, joins Samantha and Remoy to explore the complex intersection of Christianity and masculinity. David tells the story of how he was born into Christianity, how he sought out other philosophies and religions, and finally returned to the Faith with a greater hope for what the the Faith could be. David reflects on how Christianity, in its purest form, is incredibly progressive when it comes to gender roles. Finally, David speaks to how Christianity has been co-opted for the greater evil more than for the greater good, and the three of them explore how all of us are impacted.

This week, Samantha and Remoy navigate some hot news items. First, they unpack how ESPN, in trying to censor SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill’s opinion, validates the worldview that women are inferior. Next, they paint a vivid picture of what actual verbal abuse looks like. And lastly, they look at the tragedy in Las Vegas and come to understand that there are stratifications of privilege and compassion within masculinity.

This week, Samantha and Remoy tackle a long-awaited topic: Single-Sex Education. Is it helpful or does it just reinforce stereotypes about boys and girls?? They are joined by Regine Roy, founder and CEO of Queen Geniuses, an organization dedicated to teenage girls' growth and development, and Barry Cooper, formerly High School Dean of Eagle Academy for Young Men, Ocean Hill, in Brooklyn, now starting his own program working with men and boys, and author of a book about successfully co-parenting. These guys make a strong case for single-sex education and it's not at all what Samantha and Remoy think. Check it out...

Referenced in this episode:

Guardian article "Why Men Fight"

This week, Samantha and Remoy talk to the wondrous Jimmie Briggs, a renowned journalist who wondered unchartered waters to found an organization empowering youth around the world to combat gender-based violence. fromSouth Africa, to Pakistan, to Oakland, The Man Up! Campaign has had an impact around the world. Jimmie also talks to the duo about his own experience with manhood and maskulinity, and how it's impacted his life as a father and as an activist. He's just so cool.

This week, Samantha and Remoy plunge us back into summer news that has yet to have an update. R. Kelly's sex cult of 19 to 22-yr-olds, Betsy DeVos penchant for men's rights on college campuses, Men Against Women in LAPD and even a little interracial romance. Listen as they explore what the MASK has to do with it all.

In this episode of MASKulinity, Samantha and Remoy are joined by Yuval Moses, a therapist from the Crime Victims Treatment Center in New York, who works with men who have survived various forms of violence. He drops knowledge on the way suffering affects men (16:54), men being the victims of violent crime (22:36), how men can recover from sexual violence (30:50), and where survivors of violent crime can find help (41:22).  In the process, Yuval schools us on what’s needed from society to resensitize us to being sympathetic and an understanding of how violence affects men.