Author Archives: jamesdsouza76

Are there patterns to male friendships?

Being friends with other men has been something with which I’ve struggled. I’ve been more at home in the company of women. Maybe it’s because there’s only eighteen months between myself and my sister; maybe it’s because my mother has three sisters; maybe it’ s because both my grandmothers are strong characters. I don’t knowContinueContinue reading “Are there patterns to male friendships?”

Disruption To The Educational System

Yes my writing is illegible… I’m a teacher. This is a fact I mostly say with pride. I was inspired by the adverts when I was 25 (I’m 39 at the time of writing) to change careers. More frequently now though, I find myself wondering what I would be doing if I’d stayed in myContinueContinue reading “Disruption To The Educational System”

Let It All Hang Out: Shifting The Conversation About Men's Fertility

Shifting the Conversation About Men’s Fertility Tooting, London I’m hosting a fund-raising event for male-related charities CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably – the charity which exists to prevent male suicide) and infertilitynetworkUK (the UK’s leading charity providing information, support and advice to all those struggling to conceive). The event will be held on Saturday, JanuaryContinueContinue reading “Let It All Hang Out: Shifting The Conversation About Men's Fertility”

What Makes A Man?

This is the whole-school assembly I delivered during Movember. I considered it to be part of a well-executed school awareness campaign. The ‘news-cycle’ in our school (and others?) is pretty short. Especially in a recently-gone-co-educational school where the majority of pupils are boys. Boys have short memories and the routines and rhythms of schools areContinueContinue reading “What Makes A Man?”

My Utterly Fearless Sister

That’s me and my sister. Younger but not behind. Creative but not unhinged. Older but not darker. Spiritual but with no more faith. Empathic but not lost. Talkative but not domineering. Annoying but not unreasonable. Standing firm but not inflexible. Small but not ignored. Bright but not dazzling. Happy but not flighty. Impulsive but notContinueContinue reading “My Utterly Fearless Sister”

Shades of Grey: People Sometimes Call Me Judgemental

People sometimes call me judgemental. Don’t Judge… I say it is part of my job to be judgemental. It is my job to take limited data and make some assumptions based on my worldview beliefs. I am well aware that I am judged on my opinions, what I say, how I act, how I dress,ContinueContinue reading “Shades of Grey: People Sometimes Call Me Judgemental”

My Last General Election

I am stating here categorically that I was *not* arrested the last time I voted during a general election. It was May 2010. I was hot. I’d spent a day at school making people think – I was just going to continue doing it for a little while longer. Some say we all wear masks anywayContinueContinue reading “My Last General Election”