Men need G@y friends to teach empathy and be role models for their kids — Barack Obama

Former U.S. President Barack Obama shared his thoughts on modern masculinity, emotional intelligence, and the importance of diverse male role models during a recent episode of the IMO podcast, hosted by his wife Michelle Obama and brother-in-law Craig Robinson. Speaking on a new episode, Obama emphasized the value of young boys having access to a range of male influences beyond their fathers. He highlighted the unique role that LGBTQ friends can play in modeling empathy and kindnessqualities he believes are essential in raising well-rounded young men. “Thats one of the things boys neednot just exposure to one guy, even if hes a great dad. He cant be everything,” Obama said, reflecting on his early experiences with Michelles extended family and the different expressions of masculinity he encountered there.Obama recalled how one of his favorite college professors, who was openly gay, challenged his assumptions and helped him grow emotionally. He credited those interactions with shaping his understanding of empathy and the need for inclusive perspectives in male friendships.”You need that person in your friend group,” he said. “So that if you have a boy whos gay or non-binary or whatever, they have someone to look to and think, Okay, Im not alone in this.”Obama urged men to create a broader sense of community for their childrenone that embraces emotional intelligence and representation. He also pointed out that progressive spaces have sometimes focused heavily on supporting girls while unintentionally overlooking the needs of boys. “As progressive parents, weve sometimes made the mistake of only talking about whats wrong with boys, instead of highlighting whats right with them,” he said. “Thats been a mistake, and I think people are beginning to realize that.”The former president expressed hope that todays young men are beginning to redefine masculinity in healthier, more inclusive ways. Still, he cautioned against discarding traditional values entirely, noting that certain aspects of “old school” manhoodsuch as chivalry and responsibilityare still worth holding on to. The post Men need G@y friends to teach empathy and be role models for their kidsBarack Obama appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.