Former U.S. President Barack Obama has shared his thoughts on modern masculinity and emotional intelligence. He recently emphasised the importance of diverse male role models, and the world has been reacting.
Speaking during an episode of the IMO podcast, hosted by his wife Michelle Obama and brother-in-law Craig Robinson, Barack said that it is important for young boys to have access to a range of male influences beyond their fathers.
According to him, he’ll continue to highlight the special role that LGBTQ friends can play in modelling empathy and kindness, qualities that go a long way towards raising well-rounded young men.
He stated that he personally enjoyed his experiences with his wife’s extended family.
“That’s one of the things boys need—not just exposure to one guy, even if he’s a great dad. He can’t be everything,” he said.
Obama further noted that one of his favorite college professors, who was openly gay, challenged his curiosity and helped him grow emotionally.
He stressed that their interactions aided his understanding of empathy and the need for inclusive perspectives in male friendships.
The former US president concluded by saying that progressive spaces seem to focus heavily on supporting girls, while unintentionally overlooking the needs of boys.
“You need that person in your friend group. So that if you have a boy who’s gay or non-binary or whatever, they have someone to look to and think, ‘Okay, I’m not alone in this.’
As progressive parents, we’ve sometimes made the mistake of only talking about what’s wrong with boys, instead of highlighting what’s right with them. That’s been a mistake, and I think people are beginning to realize that,” he added.
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