Reimagining Masculinity 

 From childhood, boys are taught to “be strong,” “don’t cry,” “man up,” and suppress their emotions. This socialization creates a rigid, often harmful version of masculinity—one that is aggressive, emotionally closed, dominant, and disconnected.

Such toxic or harmful masculinity not only perpetuates violence and discrimination against women but also damages men themselves—emotionally, mentally, and relationally. Many men struggle with loneliness, suppressed anger, identity confusion, and poor mental health, yet feel unable to seek help due to fear of appearing "weak."

The Impact of Harmful Masculinity

On Women and Girls:

• Gender-based violence, harassment, control, and unequal access to choices and freedom.
  
  

• Reinforcement of power hierarchies at home, workplace, and public spaces.
  
  

Normalization of male entitlement over women’s bodies, labour and time.

On Men Themselves:

• Emotional repression, inability to seek help or express vulnerability.
  
  

• Mental health issues – stress, depression, substance abuse, rage.
  
  

• Social pressure to conform to dominance, aggression, and material success.
  
  

• Broken relationships and identity crises due to performance-based masculinity.

"AAINA" is an invitation to pause, reflect and reconstruct masculinity—to imagine and embrace forms of manhood that are emotionally intelligent, respectful, inclusive and free from domination.

Core Objectives 

1. To critically examine social conditioning around gender and masculinity among boys and men.
   
   

2. To create safe spaces for men to reflect on their emotions, relationships, and power without shame or judgment.
   
   

3. To reduce gender-based violence by transforming patriarchal mindsets at the root.
   
   

To promote positive, plural, and compassionate forms of masculinity rooted in equality and care.