Traditional masculinity constrains men and businesses; embracing emotional literacy and gender equality benefits everyone
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/guy-watson. "As a business founder and as a man, I regret the decades I spent confined by masculinity | Guy Singh-Watson | The Guardian." April 6, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that traditional 'tough guy' masculinity hurts both men and businesses. He says men should learn emotional skills like empathy and kindness, and support women in leadership roles, because this makes everyone happier and more successful.
Conclusion
Men should abandon traditional masculine stereotypes and embrace emotional literacy and gender equality, as this leads to better personal fulfillment and business success
Premises
- Traditional masculinity limits men to narrow roles of 'protector and provider' which are no longer sufficient for modern life
- Emotional literacy (kindness, openness, empathy, compassion) makes individuals and businesses stronger, not weaker
- Diverse leadership with more women leads to better business decisions and commercial success
- At Riverford farm, putting a woman in charge of operations led to higher productivity, profitability, and employee satisfaction
- The transition to employee ownership and inclusive culture at Riverford resulted in eliminating the gender pay gap and improving business performance
- Men who embrace emotional openness have better relationships and are less likely to experience loneliness in later life
Assumptions
- Business success can be measured by productivity, profitability, and employee satisfaction
- Traditional gender roles are socially constructed rather than biologically determined
- Emotional skills are learnable and valuable in professional contexts
- Personal anecdotes from one farm business can generalize to broader principles
- Gender equality in leadership naturally leads to better outcomes