Rewiring Masculinity

Hello and welcome! My name is Andy Hix and for the past fives years, exploring the topic of masculinity and how it affects me, the people I know and wider society has fascinated me.

I think it impacts everything and everyone. Pretty much all our schools and universities, businesses, charities and public sector organisations were set up by men, many of whom were profoundly shaped by stereotypical ideas of how 'real men' should and should not behave. So we're all affected by it to some extent, and yet how many of us have deeply reflected on what that influence has been and continues to be? Even if we don't consciously subscribe to the stereotypes, they have an impact.

For me it's been truly liberating to explore this within myself, and it's helped me to feel so much less alone with experiences that are in fact common to many men.

Drawing on mindfulness, psychology, history, biology, politics and my own personal experiences, we’ll explore:

•⁠ ⁠How cultural ideas of masculinity might have shaped how you feel, relate, and show up in the world.
•⁠ ⁠The subtle (and not-so-subtle) pressures that can keep us stuck in patterns that don’t serve us.
•⁠ ⁠Practical tools to help you connect more deeply with yourself and others.

Join me for a journey of discovery that I hope will help you to understand and accept yourself at a deeper level and encourage your individual self-expression. It might also give you more empathy for other men who you previously felt judgemental towards.

Lección 1: Why Masculinity Matters

In this first session, we explore how masculinity is shaped by a mix of biology, culture, and our childhood experiences. We look at how these influences impact our mental health, relationships, and sense of self.

I share my own experience of going to an all-boys secondary school (high school for my American listeners) that was rife with bullying, aggression, and one-upmanship, and how that shaped my view of what it meant to be a man.

This session invites you to reflect on the messages you absorbed about masculinity from family, school, and society, and how they may still influence you today.

Lección 2: Politics And The Roots Of Masculinity

In this session, we take a step back and explore how politics, history, and culture have shaped the story of masculinity we’ve inherited. We look at how both the political left and right often offer unhelpful extremes — either blaming men for societal problems or idealising a rigid, traditional masculinity. We also trace how ancient roles, religious teachings, and military culture have influenced the expectations placed on men today.

This session invites you to reflect on the cultural and political messages you’ve absorbed about what it means to be a man and how questioning those old stories can help you write your own.

Lección 3: Biology, Stereotypes, And The Blueprint Of Manhood

In this session, we explore the role biology plays in shaping typical male behaviours like aggression, risk-taking, and sex drive, and how culture builds on those biological tendencies to create rigid stereotypes. We look at how differences in brain development and hormones can help explain some patterns we see in boys and men.

I also introduce key cultural “rules” of masculinity, like avoiding weakness, always being in control, and hiding emotions, and how these expectations affect our daily lives.

Lección 4: The Emotional Cost Of Masculine Conditioning

In this session, we explore the personal toll of trying to live up to traditional masculine expectations, especially when it comes to burnout, emotional isolation, and authentic relationships. We look at how the pressure to be tough, self-sufficient, and successful can leave many men (including me) feeling disconnected from their emotions and the people around them.

This session invites you to reflect on times when trying to “be a man” may have been painful or held you back and how opening up, even just a little, can make a big impact.

Lección 5: Deepening Your Exploration Of Masculinity

In this final session, we explore practical ways to break free from limiting ideas of masculinity and build a more authentic, connected life. We look at how courage, asking for help, joining men’s groups, and practising meditation can all support emotional strength and deeper relationships.

We also reflect on how reclaiming the parts of ourselves society told us to suppress can lead to greater confidence, connection, and self-acceptance.

This session invites you to consider your next steps, whether that’s developing your meditation practice, reaching out for support, or simply being more honest with yourself and others.

Reviews

This was a great short course examining masculinity and introducing me to areas of myself that I need to explore, as well as offering sound advice to ways to reshape my views, opinions and daily life when it comes to masculinity.