Rebuilding Masculinity in Adulthood

Rebuilding Masculinity in Adulthood

In many cultures, male identity has traditionally been defined by the role of provider and an almost exclusive connection to work.

This view has offered status, structure, and meaning, but has limited many men’s mental and relational development.

So, what happens when that role disappears due to retirement or other life changes in adulthood?

For too many men, it means facing a loss of purpose, progressive isolation, and emotional disconnection — all of which impact not only their mental health but also their physical and social well-being.

At the Institute nuevamasculinidad.org, we have identified a recurring pattern: older men with vast social networks but weak or nonexistent emotional bonds.

Matrescence: definition, signs and symptoms

Matrescence: definition, signs and symptoms

Matrescence is a contraction of the words “maternity” and “adolescence”. The term is used to describe difficulties in the development of maternal feelings.

Indeed, if the birth of a child is also the birth of a mother, it’s also the birth of a mother, who suddenly changes from the status of a woman to that of a mother. This transition can be quite simple and natural, or it can be a real upheaval, both biologically and psychologically.

What are the symptoms of matrescence? How can I get through this stage without feeling guilty? Here are some answers.

Parental burnout: understanding, preventing and restoring balance

Parental burnout: understanding, preventing and restoring balance

Being a parent is an adventure as extraordinary as it is demanding. Yet many parents feel overwhelmed, exhausted and out of breath. Long a taboo subject, parental burnout is now a worrying reality.

According to a study by the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 5% of Belgian parents suffer from parental burnout, while a survey by the Ligue des Familles indicates that 20% are on the verge of exhaustion. This alarming finding underlines the urgent need to talk about it and implement appropriate solutions.

We Need Cultural Change for Caregivers, Not Just Better Policy

We Need Cultural Change for Caregivers, Not Just Better Policy

What comes to mind when you hear the term “stay-at-home mom”? Though some may think of dedication and family values, there are many negative ideas in our culture about women who spend their time caring for their children and home. Uneducated, boring, and not ambitious are a few, and more recently, the term “tradwife”. Though this word technically describes women promoting a “traditional” lifestyle on social media, “tradwife” has become—in practice—a disparaging label broadly used for any woman engaged in full-time homemaking.

A book released earlier this month, The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever by Neha Ruch, addresses these dynamics head on. It challenges the clichés of a mother “at home” and explores the simplistic thinking that stubbornly persists around motherhood and career.