masculinity – James D'Souza

Five-A: Complicating Factors "I could hear him talking to himself. Loudly."

I’ve never looked at spice pots…in the same way ever again Welcome to Part Five-A! [updated for Movember!] Just when I thought life couldn’t get more interesting or absurd…this happened. Reminder: _Men/ Young Men: seriously – learn to check your testicles regularly please – see here* _Women: get the gentlemen in your life to check theirContinueContinue reading “Five-A: Complicating Factors "I could hear him talking to himself. Loudly."”

Two: Smooth Egg Intact

These trousers will be forever associated with an enlarged scrotum. Welcome to Part Two [updated for Movember!] I’m discovering that writing this down is more of a therapeutic release that anticipated. Reminder: ladies – get the gentlemen in your life to check their testicles regularly. Getting a testicular cancer diagnosis is one of my twoContinueContinue reading “Two: Smooth Egg Intact”

One: I'm Not In Any Pain

My Mask Has Been My Constant Companion This is the first in a series of posts writing down what I’ve told a large number of times [now updated for Movember]. So much so my wife has started to roll her eyes when I tell the story. Hence me writing it. It’s pretty real. And somewhatContinueContinue reading “One: I'm Not In Any Pain”

Why Movember is Failing (One Part of) Men's Health

Before and After – Movember 2017 Every November is Movember. The charity bringing awareness of, and raising money for men’s health, started with cancers and have expanded to include men’s mental health. This is commendable. As much as this charity does the most – globally – for men’s health, they’re still failing men in one area.ContinueContinue reading “Why Movember is Failing (One Part of) Men's Health”

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?”

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?”

Getting off the mark

There is no simple way of saying this – other than saying it. When you’re a teenage boy, you’re going to be mostly terrible at relating to teenage girls. Women, ladies and girls are not there for your gratification, objectification or vilification. They don’t exist as a measure of your masculinity, virility or technical ability.ContinueContinue reading “Getting off the mark”

4 (of 4) A Very Fixed Idea of What It Means To Be A Man. Why I'll Do Movember Every Year.

Part Four: A Very Fixed Idea of What it Means To Be A Man This is the fourth post after ‘An Inarticulate Bunch of Neanderthals. Sponsor me for Movember’. If you’re reading this, the bottom line is that I want you to sponsor me for Movember. To raise awareness of men’s fertility. After discovering theContinueContinue reading “4 (of 4) A Very Fixed Idea of What It Means To Be A Man. Why I'll Do Movember Every Year.”

3 (of 4) An Inarticulate Bunch of Neanderthals. Why I'll Do Movember Every Year

Part Three: ‘An Inarticulate Bunch of Neanderthals’ “Changing the face of men’s health” This is the third post after ‘Things. Just. Happen. Why I’ll Do Movember Every Year’. If you’re reading this, the bottom line is that I want you to sponsor me for Movember. To raise awareness of men’s fertility. Grown… After the first round of IVFContinueContinue reading “3 (of 4) An Inarticulate Bunch of Neanderthals. Why I'll Do Movember Every Year”