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Prestige & Productivity — Part of An Expanded Review of Justin Baldoni’s ‘Man Enough’
Justin Baldoni reminds us how image isn’t always everything when assessing whether a person is “successful”
A big part of the reason why men and boys get forced into “the man box” is due to patriarchal expectations. Those norms include the default belief that male persons must always be providers and protectors…especially toward women and girls. Without a doubt, male leaders and authority figures are instrumental in perpetuating these outdated gender roles. But many women willfully drive these expectations in men, as well — and they are likewise culpable for the damage it causes.
In Chapter 6 of his book Man Enough, Justin Baldoni considers what exactly the definition of “success” should be. He reflects upon his family’s history with materialism and keeping up appearances. Then, Baldoni draws parallels to how he repeated such patterns in his own adult life — along with how he now strives to break those patterns.
This is Part 6 of an eleven-part series examining Baldoni’s book.
