The Intersection of Masculinity and Workplace Culture: What Are We Missing?

Since last summer, I’ve been on a journey to better understand different perspectives—including my own. This journey has been about more than just listening to diverse viewpoints; it has also required deep self-reflection on the beliefs and biases I carry. I’ve challenged myself to move beyond my comfort zone, to not only hear but to truly engage with perspectives that might differ from my own. In doing so, I’ve come to see that learning is an evolving process—one that requires humility, openness, and a willingness to question long-held assumptions. I’ve often reflected on the idea of what happens when someone disagrees with me or has a fundamentally different perspective. How can I enter that conversation with curiosity, not just as a DEI practitioner who teaches these skills, but as someone who actively puts them into practice? We can't possibly live in a world where everyone agrees, and that in itself is the value of diversity.

As I explored this further, I found myself drawn to a topic that has long been debated but often misunderstood: masculinity. My dear friend Jake Stika gave me the courage to take my ideas from conversation into written form, to see what others think and to get the conversation going on a larger scale. Discussions about masculinity—especially in the workplace—can often feel polarized, but they are necessary to creating environments where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported. I wanted to bring this article to life because conversations about masculinity in professional settings are often left unexplored or oversimplified. The workplace is a microcosm of broader societal norms, and if we don’t engage in thoughtful dialogue about how masculinity is understood and expressed, we risk reinforcing outdated power structures rather than fostering inclusive cultures. By putting this in writing, I hope to encourage open and constructive conversations about what it means to cultivate healthy masculinity in leadership, teamwork, and organizational culture. So, here we go.

In this continued journey, I recently came across a few video clips from a conversation between Joe Rogan and Mark Zuckerberg that made me question their intent. Rather than forming an opinion based on short snippets, I decided to go deeper and listen to the full podcast to assess the broader context.

Some key points from their conversation that stood out to me were:

1. The idea that "corporate culture has been neutered."

2. The claim that "masculinity has been unfairly framed as negative."

3. The suggestion that "a bit more aggression—perhaps influenced by Zuckerberg’s exploration of mixed martial arts—should be reintroduced into workplace dynamics."

Zuckerberg described his experience training in mixed martial arts as a way to access a part of himself that he felt was missing in corporate life. He reflected:

"I do think a lot of our society has become very, like, I don’t know… neutered or emasculated. And there’s a whole energy in this [martial arts] that I think is very healthy in the right balance."

The framing of corporate culture as ‘neutered’ suggests that masculinity must be tied to dominance or aggression, but this ignores the evolution of leadership toward emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and adaptability—traits that have always been part of strong leadership, regardless of gender. Later in the conversation, he added:

"I think it’s one thing to say we want to be welcoming and make a good environment for everyone. And I think it’s another to basically say that masculinity is bad… I think we kind of swung culturally to that part of the spectrum where it’s all like, ‘Okay, masculinity is toxic. We have to get rid of it completely.’"

While these points were touched on in various clips circulating online, I found that they lacked deeper unpacking. The way these ideas were framed piqued my interest, but they also raised important questions. Have we truly diminished masculinity in the workplace, or are we seeing a shift toward a more balanced approach? Is masculinity being perceived as inherently negative, or is the term toxic masculinity being conflated with masculinity itself? And does the workplace really need more aggression, or does research show that collaboration and psychological safety yield better results?

The Aggression Debate: Does the Workplace Need More?

Zuckerberg’s suggestion that corporate culture has moved too far away from traditional masculine energy led me to examine the role of aggression in the workplace. He expressed frustration with what he viewed as unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in corporate life, stating:

"There’s a lot of things that we have that exist, especially in the business world, in the corporate world, in the education world that are just bullshit. And they don’t really have to be there."

The implication here is that workplaces have become bogged down by systems and norms that discourage direct competition and assertiveness. But is aggression truly the missing ingredient? Or is it that the qualities we associate with traditional masculinity—such as decisiveness and confidence—are evolving to include emotional intelligence, adaptability, and collaboration?

Masculinity has never been solely about aggression. Confidence, decisiveness, and leadership can all exist without aggression, and in fact, research shows that emotional intelligence and adaptability are increasingly valued in leadership today. There’s extensive research demonstrating that collaboration, psychological safety, and inclusive decision-making drive innovation and productivity far more effectively than aggression or hyper-competitiveness. A study from Google’s Project Aristotle, for example, found that the most successful teams were those that fostered an environment of trust and mutual respect—not those dominated by aggressive or competitive dynamics. Psychological safety, which allows employees to take risks and voice concerns without fear of retribution, has been identified as a key factor in team effectiveness.

Additionally, McKinsey & Company has reported that companies with more inclusive work cultures consistently outperform their peers in profitability and employee engagement. Harvard Business Review has also published findings indicating that workplaces with high levels of competition and unchecked aggression often experience increased burnout, lower employee satisfaction, and higher turnover rates.

This raises another key question: Who is saying that aggression is missing? And whose experiences are being centered in that narrative? If a workplace environment has historically rewarded dominance and unchecked competitiveness, then a shift toward inclusivity and collaboration might feel, to some, like a loss of power rather than a necessary evolution. But research consistently shows that organizations thrive when they move beyond traditional, aggressive workplace models and instead create cultures where employees feel psychologically safe, valued, and empowered to contribute.

A Call for Healthy Masculinity

What I do think is worth amplifying is the conversation around healthy masculinity in the workplace. Organizations like Next Gen Men are leading critical discussions on how men can engage with masculinity in ways that are constructive, rather than reinforcing outdated norms that stifle emotional expression or collaboration. Healthy masculinity encourages vulnerability, mentorship, allyship, and self-awareness—all of which contribute to stronger workplace cultures.

The Next Gen Men article, Masculinity is at Work by Sarah Andrews, highlights how men often struggle with the pressure to conform to traditional masculinity, especially in workplace settings. With 3 in 10 employed men reporting frequent work-related stress, the article notes that many feel burdened by the expectation to be self-reliant and emotionally strong. Even more concerning, 30% of men believe that speaking openly about their mental health could cost them their job.

Andrews also references Deloitte’s recommendations for improving workplace gender equity, which include:

1. Shifting workplace culture away from an "always on, always available" expectation and encouraging work-life balance.

2. Encouraging leadership to reflect on their biases and how they shape workplace norms.

3. Addressing barriers to inclusivity at an organizational level.

Similarly, the Next Gen Men article Mane, Man, and Myth: The Hairy Truth About Masculinity and Patriarchy by Alex Varoutas & Veronika Elyk explores another dimension of masculinity—its relationship with hair loss. The piece delves into how deeply hair is tied to identity and the way societal expectations shape men’s experiences with hair loss. The article highlights research indicating that hair loss stigma can lead to real-world consequences, such as discrimination in hiring processes and psychological distress.

One particularly eye-opening study found that identical resumes submitted with photos of bald applicants versus those with full hair resulted in a significant disparity in interview invitations. This reflects the broader issue of how masculinity is policed in ways that extend beyond workplace behavior to physical appearance. The authors challenge readers to question patriarchal beauty standards and consider how embracing different forms of masculinity—beyond the conventional—can contribute to a more inclusive culture.

Additionally, What Is Healthy Masculinity? published in Voice Male Magazine, offers an anthology of essays exploring different perspectives on the topic. Contributors discuss how masculinity has been traditionally shaped by patriarchal expectations and how a redefinition of masculinity can lead to healthier expressions of identity. The collection highlights that rather than defining masculinity through power and dominance, men can embrace vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and relational depth as markers of strength.

Moving Forward: An Inclusive Approach to Workplace Culture

Rather than debating whether masculinity or aggression should be revived in the workplace, I think the real question is: How do we create environments where everyone—regardless of gender—can thrive? Research consistently shows that diversity of thought, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership drive the best results. We should be amplifying these evidence-based approaches while continuing to explore and redefine what healthy expressions of masculinity look like in professional settings. This journey has reinforced for me that true leadership isn't about reclaiming outdated notions of masculinity—it's about evolving to create workplaces where everyone thrives. And that starts with one conversation at a time.

I’m curious to continue this conversation and hear from others—especially those who have been engaging with these ideas in different ways. How do we ensure that workplace culture evolves in a way that values everyone’s contributions? How do we create spaces where all forms of leadership—whether assertive, collaborative, empathetic, or directive—are recognized and valued?

I don’t have all the answers, but I’m here to learn. Because ultimately, building a more inclusive world happens one conversation at a time.

For additional insights, you can check out:

• Masculinity is at Work by Sarah Andrews: https://www.nextgenmen.ca/blog/masculinity-mental-health-work.

• Mane, Man, and Myth: The Hairy Truth About Masculinity and Patriarchy by Alex Varoutas & Veronika Elyk: https://www.nextgenmen.ca/blog/gender-and-hair-loss.

• What Is Healthy Masculinity? published in Voice Male Magazine: https://voicemalemagazine.org/what-is-healthy-masculinity/.

And for those who want to further explore these themes, Voice Male Magazine provides an in-depth look at the evolution of masculinity and its societal impact. Their Fall 2024 issue, The Next Generation, covers essential topics such as emotional debt, gender norms in schools, and men’s role in gender equality. If you're curious to step into the powerful world of positive masculinity, consider subscribing to Voice Male Magazine and joining the conversation on redefining masculinity for a more inclusive future.

Discover the future of masculinity—order your copy today: https://shop.nextgenmen.ca/products/voice-male-magazine.