(Programming Note: When delivering this Ingredient: Avoid putting down men in a general sense. Keep the discussion focused on the need for leaders in government to be sensitized to complex issues. Use examples of emotionally intelligent male leaders.

The main contention of this module is that men who ignore or fail to consider the negative aspects of their biological masculinity are not equipped to deal effectively with the complex issues presented by citizenship and governance. 

Blind Masculines aren’t good at dealing with the complexities of larger, more diverse community systems, such as America. This is a phenomenon and problem that nobody wants to talk about. 

Please discuss a few of the biological factual traits of men as compared to women: patience, impulsivity in decision-making, and tolerance. Kindness? Compassion? How do the natural-born tendencies of males and females compare when dealing with issues of significant complexity, such as government affairs?

Why is this such a hard concept to approach as a societal fact and a construct that is holding us back, from a sheer practical standpoint? Why is it so hard for us to address these facts?

(Participant Cards)

• Teaching mental health awareness, so we can keep people balanced, and humble and remarkable, is viewed as “touchy - feely” so it is never made a priority. 

• The sooner we accept certain facts about ourselves, and stop living according to made up cultural myths, we can begin living the reality intended for all of us - Not the one defined by us by the blindly masculine few.

Is there truth behind those terms? Ever heard the term “Alpha Dog”? Men make up over 93% of all of the people locked up in our society. Over 6 million men in the U.S. suffer from depression annually, but only 1 in 4 seek help. How can we be more mindful of our weaknesses?

Resources: 

• Letters To Mikey, Pages  160-161